CRASH LINKED TO DRIVER'S DRUG USE

NEW ORLEANS-A bus driver's use of marijuana hours before the Mother's
Day crash that killed 22 people was the main cause of the accident,
according to a police report released Tuesday.

A blood test showed Frank Bedell, 46, who died Sunday of a heart
attack, used marijuana two to six hours before his bus full of mostly
elderly women veered off a highway and smashed into a concrete
abutment, the report said.

The report listed Bedell's drug use as the main factor leading to
the May 9 crash of the Custom Bus Charters bus.

The report ruled out other possible causes, such as mechanical
failure. Bedell's extensive health problems, including heart disease
and kidney failure, were discussed in detail but were not listed as
contributing factors.

The report, forwarded to prosecutors last week before Bedell died,
recommended that he be charged with vehicular homicide, first degree
vehicular negligent injuring, reckless operation of a vehicle and
driving while intoxicated.

Bedell's death ends any possibility of criminal prosecutions in the
case, police said. They declined to elaborate on their findings.