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SARATOGA SPRINGS — A man who was critically injured in a crash with a school bus in 2022, which also resulted in the death of his passenger, is now being criminally charged for allegedly causing the crash.
Caden Jim Simmons, 20, of Eagle Mountain, was charged Wednesday in 4th District Court with negligently operating a vehicle resulting in death, a second-degree felony.
On Sept. 26, 2022, Simmons was in a Hyundai headed north on Redwood Road when he tried to make a left turn into a gas station. Police, however, say he turned into the path of an oncoming school bus that was southbound.
"The bus braked but was unable to avoid (Simmons') car. The bus collided with the car's front passenger door, killing the victim. The school bus had right of way," according to charging documents.
Related:
Saratoga Springs woman killed in collision with school bus
A Saratoga Springs woman was killed early Monday in a collision with a school bus, police said.Witnesses made statements to investigators that the car tried to "shoot the gap" in front of the bus, and "the car tried to beat the bus. Bus hit the car. It was the car's fault," the charges state.
Lauren Scott, 20, of Saratoga Springs, died at the scene. Simmons was flown to a hospital in critical condition. Four junior high students on the bus and the bus driver were not injured.
Accident reconstruction investigators determined that Simmons was braking until 1.5 seconds before the crash, but then "pressed the accelerator to 99% engagement, where it remained until the collision, corroborating the statements of witnesses that he tried to 'shoot the gap,'" according to the charges.
Simmons was also determined to have THC in his system, the charges state.
