Driver in fatal crash told police she didn't realize it was a school bus

The woman who was driving the truck that killed three children and injured one as they walked to the school bus told police she saw the lights, but didn't recognize it as a school bus until it was too late, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Alyssa Shepherd, 24, spoke with investigators right after the crash happened on SR 25 Tuesday morning around 7:15 a.m.

The information about what Shepherd told police was revealed in the probable cause affidavit.

Shepherd told police she saw the lights of the bus, but didn't recognize it as a school bus. By the time she realized what it was, the kids were in front of her, according to reports.

Multiple witnesses reported seeing the lights on and the stop arm down, police said.

Shepherd told police she doesn't usually drive her husband to work, but on Tuesday she did. She dropped him off in Talma at 7:05 a.m. and then headed to her mother's house to drop off her little brother.

She said she was not running late or in a hurry.

Her brother and two other children were in the truck with her when the crash happened.

The bus driver told police he saw the pickup truck coming but it was a long way off. Since he had his flashing lights and stop arm down, he waved the kids across the street.

When he realized the truck wasn't slowing down, he honked his horn as a warning - but it was too late, he told police.

A driver who was behind Shepherd testified she came around the curve and saw the school bus lights. She saw the headlights of the truck light up the kids just before they were hit, according to reports.

Shepherd is facing three counts of reckless homicide and a misdemeanor count of passing a school bus with arm extended causing injury.