Driver charged with 26 felony counts in crash that injured St. Ignatius College Prep hockey team
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A semi- trailer truck driver was hit with dozens of felony charges Monday night in a crash in Indiana that left more than a dozen junior varsity hockey players from Chicago's St. Ignatius College Prep over the weekend.
The Kosciusko County, Indiana Prosecuting Attorney's office announced Monday night that Victor Santos, 58, from Brooklyn, New York City, now stands charged with 26 counts each of criminal recklessness and causing serious bodily injury while operating a vehicle – both felonies.
Bond for Santos was set at a total of $77,500, with $2,500 cash required for his release. The 26 counts reflect the 26 people who had been on the St. Ignatius bus.
Police said Santos was stopped just after he drove off the road. He failed a breath test, police said.
No court date for Santos has yet been set. Further charges or enhancements could still be coming.
Meanwhile, a mass for the injured students was held at Holy Family Church, at 1080 W. Roosevelt Rd. next door to the school on the Near West Side.
At the packed mass, there were feelings of gratitude and thanks from the Wolfpack hockey team – one week before Thanksgiving.
At the mass, students and parents we spoke with said they are grateful the 16 injured students survived. On Monday, the two students who are still hospitalized – and only those two students - were able to watch the mass a private feed to their hospital rooms.
But the staff is hopeful the entire team will be home for the holiday.
The Wolfpack hockey players' bus was hit by the semi-trailer truck prosecutors say Santos was driving in Warsaw, Indiana Saturday night.
At 8:06 p.m., Saturday, the semi-truck that later hit the bus was already being sought by police for swerving — driving off the road and into other lanes.
Two minutes later, as the St. Ignatius hockey team bus was just entering an intersection, the semi clipped the back of it – spinning it 180 degrees from due north to due south.
At the time of the accident, a total of 23 student athletes from the junior varsity boys' hockey team – and two coaches – were on the bus. The hockey players were between 14 and 17 years old.
The team was en route to a hotel from dinner in Warsaw, Indiana after a tournament in Culver. Warsaw is about 50 miles south of South Bend, and about 40 miles west of Fort Wayne.
The three students who were the most seriously hurt in the accident included one boy who was ejected.
"It just reminds you how fragile life is and just to be grateful for every day," said St. Ignatius parent Frowene Rogers.
While the pain remains fresh, the healing has also begin for the St. Ignatius community.
"I was back home just getting updates; just hearing about everything that was happening," said St. Ignatius student athlete Moses Rogers.
Rogers is on the hockey team, but he was not on the bus Saturday night.
"It's been really hectic, but we're all really supportive of each other," Rogers said.
That support system on full display Monday afternoon.
"Everyone's been so supportive throughout this whole thing, and you feel that love and that care everywhere," said St. Ignatius hockey player Jack Rhyner.
"The Chicago hockey community rallied, and it's really nice to see," added Larry Brown.
St. Ignatius varsity hockey player Charlie Reif has a brother on the junior varsity team. He said his younger brother – a JV player – was on the bus and was hurt.
Reif talked about seeing his younger brother upon after the boy was released from the hospital.
"I've been on the phone with him a lot that Saturday night, so it was pretty relieving," he said. "I woke up Sunday, did some homework in the morning, then I heard that back door open – and he was there with my dad, and he stayed the night out there, so it was pretty nice to see him again."
Players we spoke with off camera told us they were also on the bus, and those moments immediately after the crash were absolute chaos. But they are grateful their teammates will make it through.
Hockey director Spencer Montgomery said those immediate moments were shocking for the students.
"Their first reaction was, if they're good, to try and help the next person," Montgomery said. "It's been an emotional 24 hours for our club. The players are really leaning on each other."
The JV season is on hold for now, and it is unclear if the St. Ignatius JV hockey season will start back up. Varsity does play Thursday in what is expected to be an emotional night on the ice.
"Just playing for all of them - every shift, every practice, every game - every game for the rest of the year and next year," Reif said.
