75-Year-Old Bus Driver Faces Homicide Charges | Birmingham News

0:00A 75-year-old school bus driver in Alabama is facing serious charges, including homicide by vehicle and criminally negligent homicide. This stems from a deadly crash back on November 18, 2025 that resulted in the death of 42-year-old Jennifer Lee. Cooper. Cooper was a local business owner and mother. The incident occurred when the driver, Theresa McLeod, reportedly experienced a sudden and severe drop in blood sugar while operating the bus. Her family states this was an unprecedented medical emergency and doctors confirmed it was a crisis. Despite this, McLeod is now navigating the legal system to defend herself against charges related to the accident. The lawsuit filed against McLeod and the school board alleges that she may have been experiencing prior diabetic episodes and potentially using obiates, which they claim impaired her ability to drive. The suit also suggests she reported feeling unwell that day but was instructed to proceed with her route. McLeod turned herself in on September 4, 2026 to begin the legal process.

1:05Her family has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of her legal defense, emphasizing that she's facing a significant challenge in building her case. The crash itself happened just after 8 a.m. on East University Drive. While Jennifer Lee Cooper was pronounced dead at the scene, thankfully no students on the bus were reported injured. The fundraising efforts are ongoing to support McLeod's fight for justice. Birmingham News Today, powered by AI Bringing You What Matters.