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Verdict In For Bus Drivers Involved In 2014 Crash

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Two former Port Authority bus drivers were cleared of the most serious charges related this incident on I-279 back in September 2014. They were convicted of several summary offenses.

The prosecution had argued that 47-year-old Juliann Maier and 57-year-old Thomas Frauens were racing their buses, jockeying for position, when Maiers' bus hit the back of Frauens' bus. Her bus ended up going off the road.

Joel Sansone, attorney for Maier said today, reacted after the verdict was announced by Judge Jeffrey Manning.

"It's clear that Julie was not doing what she was accused of, as the most serious charges have been withdrawn and the not guilty verdict came from them," he said.

Frauens felt a sense of relief.

"For somebody that has done nothing wrong, in my life, and to have something like this hanging over your head is just , it's been torture," he said.

Judge Manning said he didn't believe the actions of the drivers caught on video met the threshold of reckless endangerment or another person. Frauens was also found not guilty of leaving the scene of an accident.

"Like I said, I didn't leave the scene. I ran back there. I wasn't think about all the state laws. I was in shock when I saw her go over that guard rail", explained Frauens.

Because all of the charges the pair was found guilty of, including careless driving, and driving at an unsafe speed, are summary offenses, each driver faces fines.

Maier was fined $250 and Frauens was fined $475. Maier's attorney argued that the decision today doesn't address the issues they raised during the trial concerning the overall safety of the buses. Sansone said after today's proceeding.

"These buses are in such terrible condition that the speedometers are never calibrated. They don't know what they're dealing with," he said.

Both drivers say they would like to get their jobs back, but that's a decision that will have to be made by the Port Authority, and the drivers say they will take the issue to their union.

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