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A Stamford truck driver charged with hitting a school bus and 21 other vehicles last month, allegedly while under the influence of drugs, pleaded not guilty Thursday. Twelve of the 27 students on the bus had to be treated for minor injuries.
Superior Court Judge Richard Comerford increased bail for the trucker, Christopher Simonelli, 30, of Frederick Street, to $150,000 and ordered him to appear in court again Jan. 11. This could easily have been a case of multiple counts of manslaughter, Comerford told Simonelli of the Nov. 16 incident. This is a very serious matter.
Simonelli, who was released from Stamford Hospital Thursday morning, was wheeled into court in a wheelchair. He received a broken right wrist, right thigh and right ankle during the multi-vehicle accident, according to court records.
At the beginning of the arraignment, prosecutors read off his prior record, which included multiple counts of reckless driving and substance abuse problems.
Simonelli was silent throughout the 15 minute hearing. When asked for a plea, his lawyer, Lindy Urso, spoke for him: Pro forma not guilty, your honor.
The accident occurred as Simonelli crashed through the yard at CT Transit at 26 Elm Court. Police said his truck crashed another fence and went onto Myrtle Avenue. The truck ended up on East Main Street, but not before damaging 22 vehicles, including a Stamford High School bus.
Simonelli was charged with four counts of assault, 25 counts of risk of injury to a minor, four counts of evading responsibility, and one count of operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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