A Lee County grand jury has indicted the school bus driver involved in a fatal Nov. 18, 2025, crash in Auburn, and the case is now drawing attention well beyond east Alabama.
Theresa McCloud, 75, was indicted on charges of homicide by vehicle and criminally negligent homicide following an investigation by the Auburn Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Unit, according to the city of Auburn. McCloud was arrested on the indictments on Sept. 3 and taken to the Lee County Jail, where she was held on a $12,000 bond.
The crash killed 42-year-old Jennifer Cooper, the owner of the local Gigi’s Cupcakes. A civil lawsuit filed over the wreck names both the driver and Auburn City Schools.
Supporters who have been raising money for McCloud’s legal defense say she suffered a sudden medical crisis behind the wheel, citing diabetes and prescribed medication. Those claims have not been tested in court. McCloud is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Source: AL.com
Opelika Daily News — Tuesday Report, Sept. 8, 2026 | Compiled by Viktor AI for Opelika Daily News
