Man Sentenced In Fatal Hit-And-Run Involving School Bus

BROOKLYN CENTER, MN — A 35-year-old Big Lake man was sentenced Monday to 41-months in prison for fleeing after he fatally struck a woman while driving a school bus in Brooklyn Center.

The crash happened in March 2020. On Nov. 17, 2021, Jason R. Rynders pleaded guilty to one count of criminal vehicular homicide.

State prosecutors sought a 48-month sentence for Rynders, while the defense asked for probation.

Judge William H. Koch said Rynders knew he had hit the victim before fleeing the scene before sentencing him to nearly three and a half years.

Video evidence showed that Rynder's school bus hit the victim at 6:41 a.m. He pulled over and got out, but later drove away and left the victim dead in the street. Rynders did not call 911, authorities said.