Thread: MN-Lawyer: DNA On Airbag Did Not Belong To Franco

Jun 27, 2008 4:58 pm US

Lawyer: DNA On Airbag Did Not Belong To Franco


Olga Martinez Franco
Lyon County

(WCCO)
New information could help the woman charged in a deadly school bus accident.

Her attorney said there is new DNA evidence that could clear Olga Franco as the driver of a van that crashed into a school bus in February killing four children.

At a hearing Friday, attorneys for Franco said they have DNA evidence that proves a man was driving the van.

They said DNA taken from the driver's side airbag shows it came from an unidentified male.

Franco has told police that her boyfriend, Francisco Sangabriel-Mendoza, was driving the van.

Police have yet to locate him.

http://wcco.com/crime/Olga.Martinez.Fra ... 58996.html

Previous post by zeezil--Officials Release Real Name of Immigrant Van Driver Charged in Deadly Minnesota School Bus Crash

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-105422-bus.html+crash

If true, she would still be an accessory as she did not disclose this information in a timely matter. She gave him enough time to escape. She gave a false name. Jail time and deportation for her, not as much as for manslaughter, but punishment just the same.

At a hearing Friday, attorneys for Franco said they have DNA evidence that proves a man was driving the van.

They said DNA taken from the driver's side airbag shows it came from an unidentified male.

Well, it doesn't prove per se that someone else was driving the van. It does however seem to establish that someone else was in the van with her that may have been injured and bled on the airbag.

As miguelina stated, even if proven beyond a reasonable doubt she was not driving the van, she should still be charged with obstruction for her delay in disclosing this information; probably in an effort to give her boyfriend time to flee the country.

They don't list the source of the DNA--blood, skin tissue, etc.--nor the amount.

Could the DNA have come from one of the rescuers who had to extradict her from the van?

Could a passenger, who later ran away, reached over to help her and left DNA?

Whose DNA was on the passenger's air-bag?