Woman Sentenced in Fatal School Bus Crash Case

(Marshall, Minnesota) In February 2008, a 23-year-old illegal alien from Guatemala, Olga Marina Franco Del Cid (aka Alianiss Nunez Morales) ran a stop sign in her vehicle and crashed into a school bus, killing four young students and injuring 17.

Olga Franco was charged with four counts of criminal vehicular homicide, running a stop sign and driving without a license.

Franco, who drew nationwide attention from people focused on the illegal immigration debate, was found behind the steering wheel, her right foot wedged near the accelerator under a crumpled dash board.

She has maintained that her boyfriend was the one driving the van and that he fled because he didn't want to be deported to Mexico. Her attorneys argued at trial that he was thrown from the van on impact and Franco was thrown part-way into the driver's seat. The boyfriend is believed to be in Mexico.

Nevertheless, in August a Kandiyohi County jury found Franco guilty of all charges. This week, Franco was sentenced to 12 and one-half years in prison. She will be eligible for parole after eight years. Deportation will follow.

Although she continues to deny that she was driving, Franco apologized in court to the victims' families and relatives. She asked for forgiveness.