Grandson Of School Bus Driver Speaks About Grandfather's Seizures

BALTIMORE (WJZ/AP) --  New information into the investigation of the fatal bus crash has surfaced, as the grandson of school bus driver Glenn Chappell tells WJZ his grandfather did suffer from seizures and was taking medication.

Investigators are working to get to the bottom of the cause of the crash between the school bus driven by Chappell, an MTA Bus, and a mustang. Six people died, and 11 others were injured in the crash.

Neco Williams, the grandson of school bus driver Glenn Chappell, spoke to WJZ about his grandfather's health history, speaking to Investigative reporter Mike Hellgren on the phone from Texas.

Williams says his grandfather's medical records may hold the answers to why his bus went out-of-control, striking a commuter bus head-on. He says his grandfather had a history of seizures and took medicine to control them.

"I do know he was taking medication for seizures. The level of seizures [he had] would normally end a person's life, but he was taking medication that would subside those and could not encourage them," said Williams. "He was on medication to prevent those from happening again," he said.

Williams says, however, while the seizure did affect his grandfather's health, they weren't frequent. Though, he suspects they may have something to do with the crash.

"I definitely feel like he had a medical emergency, that unfortunately, just he lost control, and he wasn't able to function properly," said Williams.

Williams says his grandfather did not use alcohol or other drugs, but he had been hospitalized before.

"They were infrequent, they weren't anything that was anything happening on a regular basis, they were sparse," said Williams.

In a Howard County Police report, obtained by WJZ, shows Chappell was involved in a crash two years ago. The report says he lost consciousness and lost control of his car. It says he was on seizure medicine then.

An accident report from Feb. 9, 2014, says Chappell was driving in Ellicott City around 9 a.m. when he apparently "suffered a medical condition" and lost consciousness and/or control of the car.

The report says the vehicle crossed a concrete median and oncoming traffic, eventually striking a guardrail. It then continued on a pedestrian sidewalk before coming to a rest after striking some trees and shrubbery.

It says Chappell was taken to a hospital with no apparent physical injuries.
Authorities have declined to answer specific questions about Chappell's health history but say they are looking at it as part of the investigation.

In a phone conversation with Williams, Investigative reporter Mike Hellgren asks, "Do you think he should have been driving that bus?"

To which, Williams responds "Since this medical condition has him being this way, I can't say that I agree with him driving the bus. Maybe he should have considered another field."

"We have completed the mechanical inspections of both buses involved in the crash, and no mechanical defects or deficiencies were noted," said Jennifer Morrison, NTSB Investigator-In-Charge.

Kameron Cummings was in a car just behind the school bus. He and his pregnant fiance helped rescue victims.

"The bus did not stop at all. There was no brakes. I don't think he ever put his brakes on. Something had to have happened to him on that bus," said Cummings.

The Motor Vehicle Administration says Chappell's license lapsed because he failed to turn in medical certification.

The bus company he worked for, AA Affordable, has come under fire, too.

"I'm calling on the school system to terminate AA Affordable," said Baltimore City Councilwoman, Mary Pat Clarke, District 14.

"If the physical or medical background check was done, and they found that he had a condition like this, then they absolutely should not have given him the position," said Chappell's grandson, Williams.

While no direct cause has been determined by investigators, AA Affordable says they are working with investigators, and contends Chappell's paperwork was up to date.

The head of city schools has now called for a full and thorough review of school bus transportation policies to ensure students get and from class safely.

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