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NTSB to give update on deadly Concan crash


Kimberly Rubio

Assistant editor

The National Transportation Safety Board is scheduled to meet Oct. 16 in Washington, D.C., where the board will announce an official cause for the March 29, 2017, crash in Concan that killed 13 members of the First Baptist Church of New Braunfels.

The NTSB is an independent U.S. government agency tasked with investigating civil transportation wrecks.

The meeting will take place at 8:30 a.m. A link to the webcast will be available shortly before the start of the meeting at ntsb.capitolconnection.org/.

The fatal crash occurred on U.S. Highway 83 North, 1.7 miles south of Farm-to-Market Road 1050 in Uvalde County. Jack Dillon Young, now 21, of Leakey, said he was checking his phone when his 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck collided head-on with the bus.

Young survived, as did one of the 14 occupants of the small bus, which was carrying senior members of the church home from a retreat in Leakey. According to the NTSB, preliminary evidence indicates that all the occupants of the bus were wearing seat belts. The rear passengers had lap-only belts available for their use. The investigation also determined that no mechanical defects were identified in the initial inspection, but there had not been a successful download of event-related data from any vehicle-based recording or transmitting devices.

Traveling at an estimated speed of between 67-71 mph, in a 70 mph speed zone, Young crossed the double yellow center line 19 times, crossed the solid white edge lines of the roadway 37 times and entered the grass roadside at least five times, according to the NTSB’s review of a witness’ 14-minute video, which was recorded via cellphone prior to the collision. At one point in the video, the truck is seen traveling on the wrong side of the road.

Young also told NTSB investigators that he took prescription medications prior to the crash. At the crash scene, in the front seat of Young’s truck, troopers found empty bottles of Clonazepam and Prazosin and the generic forms of Ambien and Lexapro. The bottle of Ambien contained 29 pills, while the bottle of Lexapro contained 30 pills. Marijuana was also found in the truck.

Young, who was hospitalized after the crash, turned himself in to authorities on June 28, 2017, after 14 two-count indictments were issued against him. Charges included 13 counts of intoxicated manslaughter with a vehicle and 13 counts of manslaughter, as well as one count of intoxicated assault with a vehicle and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

On Aug. 24, 2017, he pleaded not guilty to the charges listed in the indictments, and the following month he was released from Uvalde County Jail after posting a $310,000 bond. He was arrested in early May 2017 for violating pre-trial release by testing positive for a chemical compound found in cannabis.

On May 31, 2018, Young pleaded no contest to the 14 two-count indictments. Young’s plea means he neither disputes nor admits to the crime but has agreed to forfeit his right to a trial by jury.

He left the Uvalde County Justice Center that day eligible to remain free until his sentencing hearing. However, on July 12, 2018 he was arrested once more for violating pre-trial release

Now, Young will remain in the Uvalde County Jail until his Nov. 7 sentencing hearing. He could face up to 270 years in prison.

In addition to criminal charges against Young, Ross Allen, the son of Howard Bryan Allen, one of the 13 senior members killed in the fatal wreck, filed a wrongful death civil suit against Young.

Attorneys from Sico Hoelscher Harris and Braugh LLP and The Huynh Law Firm PLLC have partnered in a civil suit against Ford Motor Company and Turtle Top, Inc., the maker of the bus. Both suits have remained at a standstill.

krubio@ulnnow.com, 830-278-3335

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