D.A. wants police to investigate driver more

District Attorney Charles Branson said Wednesday that he has asked Lawrence police for more information about the driver in the fatal Cat Tracker bus accident Nov. 18.

Branson said he requested the police conduct more investigation before he considers whether to file charges against the Cat Tracker driver, 41-year-old Brent Simonsson. Because it is an ongoing investigation, Branson would not specify what information he requested.

The Nov. 18 incident killed one man and critically injured another when they struck an overpass while standing atop the Cat Tracker on the way to the Kansas-Kansas State football game.

Simonsson was not licensed to drive the bus and had a restriction on his driver’s license at the time of the incident.

The injured man, Chris Orr, was still in critical condition Wednesday at the Kansas University Hospital in Kansas City, Kan.