Last Updated on January 12, 2023 by CCAR Staff
YUCAIPA >> The driver involved in a deadly February 2013 bus crash in Yucaipa will be tried on eight felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.
Norberto Bravo Perez, 55 of San Ysidro, learned the news Friday during a preliminary hearing held before Judge Alexander R. Martinez in San Bernardino Superior Court.
Witnesses described the events leading up to the bus crash near Bryant Street on Highway 38 that killed eight people. Dozens of passengers traveled from Tijuana, Mexico, to Big Bear aboard a Scapadas Magicas (Magical Escapes) bus for a “fun day in the snow” on Feb. 3, 2013, said Deputy District Attorney Carey Epstein.
Thirty-eight, including Perez, were on board.
The bus driven by Perez left Tijuana and made two stops, including one in Redlands, on the way to the Snow Summit ski resort.
Several passengers told authorities they overheard Perez making phone calls on a speakerphone to Scapadas Magicas about a faulty brake valve, said California Highway Patrol Officer Omar Hernandez.
In Big Bear, Hernandez said a passenger was asked to sit in the driver’s chair with his foot on the brake pedal so Perez could inspect the bus. He told the passenger he had to take the bus down to a “level surface” for further inspection.
He did and returned to the ski resort to escort passengers down the hill.
California Highway Patrol Officer William Bozyk said Friday he interviewed Perez at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton where he described his view of events following the crash.
He told Bozyk he had 35 years of experience driving tour buses and had inspected the vehicle prior to leaving Tijuana.
“He told me that he did not find any fault with the braking system before he left,” Bozyk said.
Perez had driven the 1996 Van Hool Tour bus to a casino with passengers on board the day before. Perez said he did not recall having any issues with the vehicle at the time.
Stephen Turner, a motor carrier specialist for the California Highway Patrol, inspected the bus after the crash. He said he discovered many issues with its braking system, including two brake drums in the vehicle’s front axle that were cracked and existed before the trip began.
The brake drums were worn out and the brakes need to be realigned, he added.
“These issues would have made the vehicle in question very unsafe to drive,” he said, adding later Perez’s pre-trip inspection should have initiated several red flags.
Following witness testimony, Martinez determined sufficient probable cause existed to hold Perez for trial on the charges.
Perez’s next court date is set for Dec. 18 for an arraignment.
Perez remains in custody at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on $1 million bail.
Martinez denied a request from the defense to lower Perez’s bail to $100,000 because Perez does not have a permanent address in California and the flight risk “was high.”
Perez pleaded not guilty to the charges on Nov. 19.
If convicted, he could face a maximum of 15 years in state prison.
