The school bus driver involved in a fatal bus collision this week was involved in a single-vehicle accident in Howard County and police at the time determined he may have lost consciousness behind the wheel.
Glenn Chappell, 67, was driving in Ellicott City Feb. 9, 2014 when this Buick LeSabre twice crossed a concrete median dividing Long Gate Parkway before coming to a rest after running into trees and shrubbery, according to a copy of the accident report obtained by ABC2 by county police.
Police wrote it appeared the driver "suffered a medical condition losing consciousness." Chappell was transported to a hospital with no physical injuries and "could not advise of the cause," police wrote.
Contact was made with Chappell's wife who told police he was taking medication for seizures.
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Chappell was behind the wheel of a yellow school bus at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday when it ran into the back of a Mustang before slamming into an MTA bus further down the road in the 3800 block of Frederick Ave.
Six people we killed, including Chappell, and the driver of the MTA bus, Ebonee Baker, 33. The school bus was not transporting students at the time. A school aide riding on the bus with Chappell survived, but has not yet been interviewed, a spokesman for Baltimore Police said Friday afternoon.
Baltimore Police also updated the total number of survivors of the bus crash from 10 to 11.
Police, jointly investigating the collision with the National Transportation Safety Board, said they would not discuss Chappell's medical history.
"That will be part of our investigation, but I'm not at liberty to discuss any of his potential medical history," said Chief TJ Smith, a Baltimore Police spokesman.
NTSB Investigator-in-Charge Jennifer Morrision said four videos of the school bus before the collision have been collected, though none of them showed the moment of impact.
Morrison said data from the engine control modules on both buses have been recovered and that neither bus had mechanical deficiencies.
The investigation, thus far, has concluded no brakes were applied before the collision. They're also looking at whether Chappell was legally able to drive the school bus after the MVA said his commercial drivers license was revoked at the end of Aug.
George Bogris, a lawyer for AA Afordable Transportation, the company contracted to drive students by Baltimore City Schools, said the claim is inaccurate.
Friday, Baltimore City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, chair of the council's education committee, called on the school district to end it's contract with the company. It operates 17 buses.
"Even if there's a shadow of a doubt [about Chappell's driving privileges], we can't let our children be at risk," Clarke said. "Families have every reason to be worried about the transport of their children."
School District CEO, Dr. Sonya Santelises, said in a statement that staff in its operations office will review "every aspect" of the school bus transportation services.
A small group held vigil at the site of the crash Friday evening.
Morrison said a preliminary investigation report is expected by the end of the month.
