Two Juveniles Accused of Stealing Two Buses Facing Charges

Knox County Sheriff Mike Smith says deputies responded to a report of a bus crash at Central Elementary earlier this week. Deputies discovered that one of the buses that was stolen had driven through a chain link gate and became stuck. During the investigation, police determined four male juveniles had walked away from the Appalachian Children’s Home in Barbourville. Two of the juveniles had stolen a school bus from the Knox County School bus garage. After they left the scene, the two juveniles who had stolen the first bus stole another bus from Knox County Schools. They were then joined by the other two juveniles. The four then traveled to Lexington, where the bus crashed on Richmond Road. All four juveniles were arrested. Two of the juveniles were charged with two counts each of auto theft and a count each of criminal mischief and wanton endangerment. The other two juveniles were returned to the children’s home. The incident remains under investigation.