(8-25-23) The driver of a minivan, Hermanio Joseph (35) of Springfield, who was involved in the Clark County deadly school bus crash that claimed the life of Aiden Clark (11) made his first court appearance yesterday.

Hermanio Joseph

Joseph is facing a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide and entered a not-guilty plea during his arraignment in Clark County Municipal Court. His bond has been set at $100,000.

The case is headed to the Clark County grand jury for additional charges.

Ohio State Troopers identified Joseph as the driver of the Honda Odyssey that crossed left of center on state Route 41, near Lawrenceville Road about 8:16 a.m. Tuesday morning and into the path of a Northwestern Local School District bus. The bus with 50 children on board and, driven by Alfred Collier (68) of Springfield, traveled off the right side of the roadway, down an embankment, and overturned.

Joseph was identified by his Ohio Identification Card and a drivers license from Mexico that was determined to not be valid because of his immigration status. No details have been released about the status of his passenger, Roberto Mompremier (37) of Springfield.