New York man pleads guilty in high-profile crash involving Chicago hockey team; alcohol, reckless driving cited in devastating collision
WARSAW, Ind. — A New York truck driver has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, including two and a half years of probation, for causing a violent 2022 crash that injured 16 student athletes from a Chicago high school hockey team.
Victor Santos, 61, of Brooklyn, accepted a plea deal on Monday, reducing the original 26 felony charges to five, with the remainder dropped. The charges stemmed from a crash that occurred on November 12, 2022, when Santos—intoxicated and behind the wheel of a semi-truck—ran a red light in Warsaw, Indiana, and collided with a school bus carrying members of the Saint Ignatius College Prep hockey team.
A Crash That Shook the Region
The incident, which occurred at the intersection of U.S. 30 and Center Street, sent shockwaves through both Warsaw and Chicago. The school bus overturned, and 16 students were injured, three of them critically. Authorities say 23 students and two adult coaches were on board, along with the bus driver.
According to court documents, several students were trapped in the overturned bus. At least one was ejected from the vehicle on impact.
The students, aged between 14 and 17, were in Warsaw for a tournament. Emergency response teams acted quickly, and several local residents and passersby assisted in aiding the injured before paramedics arrived.
The Charges and the Evidence
The prosecution built a strong case against Santos, who was found with a blood alcohol level of 0.13%, well over the legal limit. Two witnesses who had been following his vehicle told police they saw him driving erratically—weaving, speeding, and nearly running them off the road. They continued to follow Santos and alerted authorities when they saw him blow through the red light and strike the bus with full force.
Santos initially claimed the bus pulled out in front of him, but surveillance footage and multiple eyewitness accounts contradicted that narrative.
Police say Santos stumbled when he exited his vehicle and had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Officers at the scene immediately took him into custody after conducting field sobriety tests.
Families Outraged, But Relieved
Though the sentencing brings a measure of closure, families of the victims have expressed mixed emotions. Some had hoped for a longer sentence, while others were relieved that Santos took responsibility.
“I still remember the call we got that night,” said Laura Jensen, whose 15-year-old son was hospitalized with a fractured vertebra. “No parent should ever have to hear their child was ejected from a bus because someone decided to drive drunk.”
Saint Ignatius College Prep released a statement shortly after the sentencing, expressing gratitude for the support the team received during the aftermath and calling the event a “permanent scar on our community, but also a reminder of resilience and unity.”
Legal Fallout
The plea agreement, reported by WNDU, allowed Santos to avoid trial in exchange for pleading guilty to five felony counts. The deal was made in consultation with the families of the victims, according to court sources.
The sentencing includes:
-
20 years total
-
17.5 years to be served in prison
-
2.5 years on probation
-
Mandatory substance abuse counseling
-
License revocation
Judge Melissa Reese, who presided over the sentencing, noted the gravity of the offense, saying: “This was not an accident—it was a preventable tragedy caused by recklessness and disregard for human life.”
A Lasting Impact
The crash not only changed the lives of dozens of young athletes and their families but also sparked conversations around interstate trucking regulations, sobriety checks, and school trip safety protocols.
In Warsaw, the incident remains one of the most devastating traffic collisions in recent memory.
Back in Brooklyn, Santos’ family declined to comment publicly, but his attorney said in court that Santos expressed deep remorse and “accepts full responsibility for his actions.”
