MCTS bus driver charged for falling asleep behind wheel in deadly crash pleads no contest to felony charges
MCTS MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – A bus driver with the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) pleaded no contest to two felony counts for a fatal crash where he fell asleep behind the wheel.
Montrell Pharm, 53, was charged with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and reckless driving causing great bodily harm. As he appeared in court on Tuesday, Jan. 20, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge David Swanson asked Pharm if he was ready to enter his plea.
“This is uncharted waters for me,” Pharm said. “I’m doing the best I can.”
According to court documents, Pharm fell asleep behind the wheel of an MCTS bus when he hit 79-year-old Robert Clemons near 47th and Villard on Christmas night in 2024. Clemons was working on a legally parked truck with his grandson when Pharm veered off the road and hit them.
During an interview, Pharm stated on Dec. 25, he worked from 9:49 a.m. to 12:22 a.m., with a "split" around 2-4 p.m. Pharm reportedly stated he had been working 14-hour days since Dec. 22.
Pharm told investigators he feels ashamed by what happened, but he was "looking straight ahead," and had a clear path, and that he was good.” The next thing he knew there was an impact.
Video obtained by CBS 58 shows Pharm driving the bus the night of the crash. On video, you can see Pharm's eyes were closed at the time of the crash. He apparently fell asleep several times along the route while the bus was both stopped and moving.
After the crash, the cameras showed Pharm driving for more than 20 seconds before eventually coming to a stop.
No passengers were on the bus at the time of the crash.
Pharm was hired by MCTS March 18, 2024. According to investigators, this wasn't the first time Pharm fell asleep behind the wheel of a MCTS bus. Pharm was involved in another crash, what MCTS called a "preventable accident." It happened two months before the fatal crash.
At a red light on Oct.15 of 2024, he "appeared to fall asleep causing his bus to make contact with the rear of a stationary vehicle."
MCTS records show Pharm has undergone fatigue training and has been told what to do if he's too tired to drive.
Pharm never drove for MCTS again after the crash. He was fired Jan. 7 after an internal investigation.
Pharm will be sentenced on March 12.
