Paramus Knew About School Bus Driver's Bad Driving Record: Report

PARAMUS, NJ — The state Department of Education told the Paramus schools superintendent in December that a school bus driver involved in the recent Route 80 fatal crash was ineligible to drive, according to a report from The Record.

Hudy Muldrow Sr., 77, of Jersey City, the driver charged in the May 17 school bus crash on Route 80, was decertified as a school bus driver, according to the report. In a Dec. 21, 2017 letter from the department, which The Record obtained through an Open Public Records Act request, Superintendent Michele Robinson was informed that the state Motor Vehicle Commission had revoked Muldrow's bus driver endorsement.

State Superior Court Judge Stephen Taylor confirmed at the hearing that Muldrow had been medically re-certified by the state in January to drive a school bus. Muldrow's commercial driver's license was suspended nine times between 1977 and 2018, including during winter break from Dec. 20, 2017 to Jan. 3, 2018.

Read the whole Record report by clicking here.

In a statement to News12 Thursday night, Robinson said, "I have consistently said that nothing provided to the district by the state reflected that the driver had any moving violations. The information we were provided was that Mr. Muldrow’s license was suspended for a period of time during the winter recess when schools were closed. During that time, Mr. Muldrow submitted his updated medical information to the Motor Vehicle Commission. The state subsequently informed us that Mr. Muldrow was a driver in good standing and eligible to operate a school bus. He was not suspended because of moving violations."

Robinson had earlier claimed that the district had no knowledge about Muldrow's driving record before he allegedly caused the horrific crash when he cut the school bus across three lanes of Route 80 traffic. He allegedly was making an attempt to reach an official-use-only turn-around point in the median. Through a lawyer, Muldrow has maintained his innocence.

Forty-five students, teachers and adults from East Brook Middle School in Paramus were onboard the bus, which was traveling to a school field trip at Waterloo Village in Byram Township, on May 17, the day of the crash. In addition to the deaths of a student and a teacher, there were 43 injuries.

A judge agreed Wednesday to release Muldrow from jail as he continues to face charges connected to the I-80 accident. He will be required to hand over his license to the court as a condition of his release.

Taylor made the ruling after a two-hour hearing that determined whether or not Muldrow should say in jail pending the outcome of the death by auto case. The courtroom was packed with Muldrow's family members, and family members of Miranda Vargas and Jennifer Williamson Kennedy, the two killed in the crash.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Troiano argued for keeping Muldrow in jail as the charges against him are litigated, telling the judge they think the Jersey City resident is a danger to others because he's an "atrocious" driver. Troiano cited that the possible sentence of 20 years, what could amount to the rest of Muldrow's natural life, could also prompt Muldrow to flee.

Photo: Hudy Muldrow Sr. appears in court during a pretrial detention hearing. (Katie Kausch/Patch Staff)