School bus driver in fatal Roswell crash granted bond

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A Fulton County school bus driver charged in a deadly crash was granted bond Tuesday.

Charles Pitts, 69, appeared before a Magistrate Judge at the Fulton County Jail. Roswell police said Pitts failure to yield as he drove a school bus along Georgia Highway 92 on April 24. Police said the crash caused the death of brothers James and Joe Pratt of Lassiter High School.

"You are charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle and failing to yield, plus a stop sign infraction. I find that there is probable cause," Judge Jeffrey Frazier concluded.

Driver Pitts has no criminal history. The judge said because of his clean record, he qualified for a signature bond.

Pitts' attorney, Jay Abt, revealed new information about the deadly crash.

"Unfortunately these two young gentlemen died. They were traveling 60 miles an hour and the driver was operating a cellphone at the time of the accident," Lawyer Abt told the court.

The judge also ordered Pitt to surrender his passport.

His next court appearance was not immediately known.

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