Bus Driver Charged in Connection with 2022 Fatal Bus Crash in Waltham

WALTHAM - Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Waltham Chief of Police Kevin O’Connell have confirmed that Jean Fenelon, 58 of Boston, has been charged with motor vehicle homicide and speeding in connection with the fatal bus crash that occurred in November 2022 in Waltham.

Mr. Fenelon was arraigned today in Waltham District Court and released on personal recognizance.  He was ordered not to operate a motor vehicle without a license and not to have contact with any of the witnesses. The next date in this case is February 28, 2024.

At approximately 10:32 p.m. on November 19, 2022 a shuttle bus being operated by the defendant, who was working as an employee of Joseph’s Transportation, was traveling on South Street in Waltham when it crashed striking two trees. When police arrived on scene they located 30 passengers.  One of passengers, identified as Vanessa Mark, 25, was pronounced dead on scene.  The remaining passengers, and the defendant were all transported to multiple hospitals with varying degrees of injuries.

At the time of the crash the shuttle was operating a routine route from the Boston and Cambridge area and was traveling back to Brandeis University.

The subsequent investigation that included a reconstruction conducted by the Massachusetts State Police Crash Reconstruction Section found that immediately before the crash the defendant was driving 52 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour zone and driving erratically before the bus left the roadway crashing into two trees. The investigation further revealed that the defendant failed to apply the brakes.

This investigation was conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Waltham Police and Massachusetts State Police.  The prosecutors assigned to this case are Terence Kiernan and Jacqueline McCormick.  The victim witness advocates are Kristen Chamberlain and Courtney Clark.