CHP: School bus driver fell asleep in Watsonville crash

Surveillance video shows a Watsonville school bus driver falling asleep before crashing into a power pole, California Highway Patrol said. Surveillance video shows a Watsonville school bus driver falling asleep before crashing into a power pole, California Highway Patrol said. Photo: CHP Photo: CHP Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close CHP: School bus driver fell asleep in Watsonville crash 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

WATSONVILLE, Calif. — A school bus driver who crashed in Watsonville while 34 students were on the bus lied to California Highway Patrol officers about what happened, the CHP told KSBW Wednesday.

The crash happened just before 8 a.m. April 23 on Casserly Road. The bus smashed into a power pole, splitting it in half, and live power lines were tangled around the bus.

Bus driver Francisco Solano Valenzuela further endangered the Monte Vista Christian School students who were riding on his bus when he instructed students to exit the bus, despite the dangers of live power lines, the CHP said.

Luckily, none of the students were seriously injured.

The story that the bus driver gave CHP officers was false, CHP Officer Trista Drake said.

The driver claimed that he had to swerve to avoid a white SUV that crossed into oncoming traffic, directly in front of him. The SUV driver fled the scene, the bus driver claimed.

But a surveillance camera inside the bus revealed a totally different scenario.

The driver fell asleep, the CHP said.

"The video shows him clearly falling asleep," CHP Officer Sam Courtney said.

The bus was equipped with seat belts, which CHP officers said likely prevented injuries from the crash.

Before emergency crews arrived, the driver instructed the students to exit the bus, the CHP said. Students escaped through a side door emergency exit near the back of the bus.

"He led them off the bus with wires hanging right there. Those power lines were a serious concern. Fortunately, no one was injured. That was potentially dangerous," Courtney said.

Valenzuela is being charged with two misdemeanors: Giving false information to a peace officer and child endangerment. He has not been arrested.

Some parents are upset about the close call.

"We have complained about him before in the past. Thank God our children were OK. This could have been so much worse. If the trees and pole didn't stop them, they could have gone down a cliff," parent Allison Sicoli told KSBW.