WOODSTOCK, Ill.—A Chicago truck driver was convicted Wednesday of reckless homicide charges for crashing his semitrailer into a tour bus in 2003, killing eight women.
Vincente Zepeda was also found guilty of failing to inspect and maintain his vehicle. He faces up to five years in prison when he's sentenced Jan. 24, and his driver's license will be revoked.
Zepeda, 53, declined to comment after the verdict, but defense attorney Donald Rendler-Kaplan said he expects to appeal the decision if the judge does not reconsider.
"I truly believe the judge is incorrect in her ruling," Rendler-Kaplan said. "(The crash) was a misjudgment, a miscalculation, not a criminal act."
Zepeda's semitrailer struck the small bus from behind, causing a five-vehicle pileup on Interstate 90 at the Hampshire-Marengo toll plaza.
Prosecutors said Zepeda was driving too fast and was not paying attention to the road.
