A veteran and former school bus driver in Utah is facing federal and state arson charges after he allegedly set a school bus full of dozens of children on fire.
by Utah U.S. Attorney’s OfficeMichael Austin Ford, 58, of West Valley City, was indicted by a grand jury in February and taken into custody Friday after authorities accused him of setting fire to a school bus on two separate occasions.
Police said Ford, a Granite School District bus driver for 25 years, is suspected of using an “incendiary source” to start the fire.
In one incident, authorities said at least 42 children were on the bus when the Ford allegedly caught fire and continued driving.
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A former school bus driver in Utah has been arrested on suspicion of setting a school bus on fire twice. (United States District Court of Utah)
Ford allegedly used an ignition device to start a fire and continued driving the bus as smoke filled the dozens of children sitting in the back seats.
“The defendant was undeterred by the smoke and only stopped the bus when children were seen and heard on video coughing, covering their faces, and complaining about the smoke,” prosecutors said in court documents. ” he said.
Officials said the incident was captured on video.
Authorities claimed Michael Ford started two fires on Granite School District buses. (Granite School District)
More than a year later, in April 2023, Ford was again driving a Granite School District bus in traffic when he allegedly set the bus on fire.
Ford continued driving the bus, blowing smoke into his face again.
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Prosecutors alleged that Ford tried to tamper with the bus surveillance system in the days before the second fire.
A few days later, Ford was arrested by Granite School police, questioned about the fire, and released, prosecutors said.
According to sources, Ford was arrested again on state felony charges in October 2023. Utah Incident Report.
Michael Ford was charged with two counts of arson of a vehicle for an organization receiving federal funds. (United States District Court of Utah)
Prosecutors said Ford was charged with two counts of arson of a vehicle belonging to an organization receiving federal funds.
Mr. Ford was ordered held in custody ahead of his federal trial scheduled for April 29 in Salt Lake City.
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Authorities have not released a motive for the incident.
The Granite School District and prosecutors did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
