Former Bus Driver Accused of Setting Fire to School Buses Faces Detention
A former school bus driver, Michael Austin Ford, 58, from West Valley City, Utah, is currently facing serious charges after being accused of setting fire to two school buses, one of which was carrying children. Ford was ordered to be held without bail as he awaits trial, as the Magistrate Judge Cecilia M. Romero deemed him a threat to the entire community.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah stated that Ford was indicted on two counts of arson of a vehicle belonging to an organization that receives federal funds. Additionally, he is also facing charges in Salt Lake City District Court for aggravated arson, aggravated child abuse, and obstructing justice. Despite the allegations against him, a federal public defender assigned to his case has yet to comment on the matter.
According to federal prosecutors, Ford set fire to the buses on two separate occasions – February 24, 2022, and April 7, 2023, while he was working as a bus driver for the Granite School District in Salt Lake City. Both incidents involved fires starting under the dashboard of the buses, with one of them carrying as many as 42 school children.
In the first incident, the children onboard the bus were from a nearby secondary school, and fortunately, none of them sustained any injuries. However, security footage captured the distressing scene of the fire spreading inside the bus as Ford continued to drive, endangering the lives of the children onboard.
Before the second fire occurred in 2023, Ford reportedly attempted to disable the onboard camera system to obstruct any potential evidence. Nonetheless, the system was still able to record the incident, revealing Ford’s actions in igniting the fire using a “thumb-strike lighter.” State prosecutors described both fires as originating under the dashboard of the vehicles, with federal prosecutors referring to the cause as an “incendiary device.”
As the legal proceedings continue, the gravity of Ford’s actions demonstrates the potential harm and risks he posed to the community. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and security of all individuals, especially children, in vulnerable situations like being passengers on school buses.