Bus driver admits fault in crash that caused death and injury

An individual who used to work as a bus driver pleaded no contest on Tuesday, January 20th, to his involvement in a fatal crash that occurred on Christmas Day in 2024 at the intersection of 47th and Villard in Milwaukee. Montrell Pharm accepted responsibility for two charges: homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and reckless driving causing serious bodily harm. Pharm is set to receive his sentence on March 12th. An investigation revealed that the crash took place just after 11 p.m. on December 25th, with a Milwaukee police officer arriving on the scene to find two damaged vehicles and a blood trail leading to the bus. Tragically, one victim, identified as 79-year-old Robert Clemons, lost his life in the incident. The surviving victim suffered injuries and recounted to authorities the events leading up to the collision as they were working on a truck parked on the street. The complaint mentioned that the bus driver, Pharm, displayed concerning behavior on the bus's cameras just before the accident. Pharm admitted during an interview with the police that he had been working long hours the days leading up to the crash, with minimal rest in between. He expressed remorse for the accident, stating that he believed he was in a clear path before the impact occurred. Additionally, Pharm shared concerns about his health, mentioning issues with his blood sugar and lack of access to medication due to being uninsured.