A Minneota woman allegedly carrying a fake ID is charged with driving without a license, running a stop sign and killing four children in Tuesday’s school bus crash in southwestern Minnesota.

According to a criminal complaint filed by the Lyon County Attorney today, Alianiss Nunez Morales, 23, of Minneota, is accused of four counts of criminal vehicular homicide; one count of a stop sign violation and one count of not having a Minnesota driver’s license.

The first four counts are felonies that carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $20,000 fine or both.

The fifth and sixth counts are misdemeanors that carry a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine or both.

In addition, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement have probable cause to believe that Morales is in the country illegally and that the name she gave authorities is not her true identity, said ICE spokesman Claude Arnold, at a morning briefing before the court appearance. Morales told authorities that she was from Mexico, Arnold said.

Prosecutors had asked that Morales be held without bail because she is “an extreme flight risk.” Prosecutors said immigration officials in Puerto Rico have talked to the grandmother of the real Alianiss Morales and showed them pictures of the defendant. They did not recognize the woman in the pictures.

“At present, her identity is unknown,” said Lyon County Attorney Richard Maes. “She becomes an extreme flight risk.”

Judge Leland Bush set bail at $400,000 without conditions or $200,000 with conditions.

The complaint, filed in Lyon County District Court, gave more details about the crash that occurred around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Morales was driving a 1998 Plymouth minivan heading east on County Road 24 when it smashed into a school bus — with 28 students — heading south on Highway 23. The minivan was going at a “fairly good speed,” according to one witness and the bus driver.

Four Lakeview School students died and several others were injured. Morales was among the injured.

Those killed were brothers Jesse Javens, 13, and Hunter Javens, 9, of Cottonwood; Emilee Olson, 9, of Cottonwood; and Reed Stevens, 12, of Marshall. Fifteen people were hurt and taken to hospitals in Marshall, Sioux Falls and Granite Falls.

The bus driver, Dennis A. Devereaux, told authorities that when he saw the van coming, he knew that it would not be able to stop and that he did not have time to hit the brakes or speed up to avoid it. Morales’ van hit the bus in the center of its right side, which ripped off its rear axle. The bus began spinning and tipping onto its left side. The bus then spun into the path of a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado going north on Highway 23, ultimately coming to rest atop the truck.

“I thought the bus was gonna start on fire,” Devereaux told authorities. “So I punched open the hatch and I started handing kids out the window.”

Morales was headed to work at Norcraft Cabinetry, where she had been employed for a month. She told authorities that she did not always drive to work and that this was her first time on that road. According to the complaint, Morales said she stopped and when she took off, the bus hit her.

This morning, Morales entered the courthouse in a wheelchair, escorted by four law enforcement officials. A white blanket covered her legs — her right leg was in a bandage and slightly elevated.

In the courtroom, Bush read the six charges against Morales.

She responded to questions from Bush quietly and in Spanish, through an interpreter. Morales had to be asked to speak up.

“Are you married?” “No.”

“Do you live alone?” “I lived with my boyfriend, but not anymore.”

“Do you have family in the Lyon County area?” “Yes, an aunt and cousins.”

Morales is being represented by St. Paul lawyer Manuel Guerrero, who was retained by Morales’ sister Thursday night.

“From what she’s told me, she does have a defense to this,” Guerrero said in court.

Morales’ next court appearance is scheduled for April 21. ICE has put a detainer on Morales, which means that after court proceedings are done, federal immigration officials will have their own proceedings to determine her immigration status and possible deportation.

Today’s court proceedings were held as the community of Cottonwood continues to deal with its loss.

A community of 1,150 people, Cottonwood is a close-knit town about 150 miles southwest of St. Paul. Lakeview School, which serves Cottonwood and nearby Wood Lake, has about 585 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Classes at Lakeview School resumed Thursday, with the U.S. flag outside the building at half-staff. Later that night, a community service remembering the victims drew more than 1,000 people, including Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Sen. Norm Coleman and Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

“We are united in our grief,” Pawlenty said at the service. “The arms of Minnesota embrace you tonight. This is a terribly sad circumstance. About as sad as it gets.”

Now the victims’ families are preparing for their funerals.

Visitation for the Javens brothers is 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday and 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at Lakeview School in Cottonwood. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the school.

Visitation for Emilee Olson is 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday at Christ Lutheran Church in Cottonwood. Her funeral will be 2 p.m. Sunday.

Services are pending for Reed Stevens.

A fund for families of the crash victims has been set up through United Southwest Bank in Cottonwood. Contributions should be sent to: Lakeview School Memorial Fund, c/o United Southwest Bank, P.O. Box 288, Cottonwood, MN 56229-0288.

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Frederick Melo and John Brewer contributed to this report.