Mineola Man Gets Up To 15 Years In Fatal Bus Crash

MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Long Island cement truck driver convicted of manslaughter and assault for crashing into a school bus and an overpass in 2012 was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison on Thursday.

Raymond Ragen, of Mineola, was convicted in April in the death of bus driver Jorge Guevara. The jury acquitted Ragen of aggravated vehicular homicide and a different manslaughter charge.

Police said Ragen's 13-foot-high truck smashed into a 10-foot railroad underpass in Locust Valley, then hit the oncoming bus.

The crash also injured a bus attendant and four special-needs children from a summer camp.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice had accused Ragen of being high on Valium at the time of the accident. He was also talking on his cell phone while driving the nearly 40,000-pound cement truck, according to Assistant Nassau District Attorney Brendan Ahearn.

Ragen's attorney said it was a "tragic accident'' and not a crime. He said Ragan was driving slowly and safely and was not impaired.

An appeal of the conviction is planned.

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