A former school bus driver was ordered detained on March 1, 2024, after he was accused of setting the school bus on fire on two occasions.
Michael Austin Ford, 58, of West Valley City, Utah, a former Granite School District Bus Driver, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 21, 2024, for two alleged incidents of arson while driving the bus.
According to court documents, in February 2022, Ford allegedly set a Granite School District school bus on fire that had 42 children inside and did so while driving in traffic.
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As alleged in court documents, Ford used an ignition device to start a fire on the bus and was captured on video continuing to drive the bus, despite smoke billowing past his face towards the back of the bus where children were seated.
In April 2023, Ford was again driving a Granite School District bus in traffic when he was captured on video igniting a fire on the bus.
Again, Ford continued to drive the bus with smoke billowing past his face. Days later, in April 2023, Ford was arrested by Granite School Police and questioned about the fire but was released.
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Ford is charged with two counts of arson of a vehicle of an organization receiving federal funds. A jury trial is scheduled for April 29, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 8.3 before a U.S. District Court Judge at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case.
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