BRIEF: Plea possible in T-town bus crash case

July 13--The woman who allegedly drove into the school bus carrying the Teutopolis Boys Basketball team on Feb. 10 is likely to plead guilty, her attorney told a judge on Thursday.

Scarlett D. McKinzie, 36, of Mattoon, was at a stop sign at the intersection of Illinois Route 32 and Moultrie County Road 800 North and proceeded forward while the bus was making a turn, according to investigators.

On Thursday she appeared with Moultrie County public defender Marvin Hanson and requested to waive her jury trial.

"That means there is going to be a plea?" asked Judge Bradford A. Rau.

"That is my anticipation," responded Hanson.

McKinzie did not speak during the hearing.

McKinzie is charged with three counts of driving under the influence with no insurance, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of drugs, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, transporting alcohol while driving, failure to obey a stop sign and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

She is next due in court at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 22 for a status hearing.

Graham Milldrum can be reached by phone at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or by email at [email protected]

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