When Jovanny Vargas said goodbye to his twin daughters as they left for a school field trip, it was the last time he would see 10-year-old Miranda. The elderly school bus driver missed an exit and decided to do a u-turn using an emergency cut-through on the busy New Jersey highway. A dump truck slammed into the bus, which carried 32 elementary students and 7 faculty members.

Miranda and her 5th grade teacher Jennifer Williamson died in the crash. The investigation revealed that while the bus driver, 77-year-old Hudy Muldrow Sr., had a valid license at the time, it had been suspended no less than 14 times for infractions including 8 speeding tickets.

Nancy Grace visits with the father in this episode to discuss his campaign for improved school bus safety so such tragedies never happened. They are joined by Detective Christine Mannina — a former Indianapolis homicide detective who hosts the “Mannina Files” podcast, New York psychologist Caryn Stark, Atlanta juvenile judge and lawyer Ashley Willcott, and Crime Stories contributing reporter Chuck Roberts.

Also read: Bus driver charged in crash that killed student, teacher

“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” is a national radio show, heard on SiriusXM’s Triumph Channel 132, five times a day. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iTunes and Google Play.

[Feature Photo: Miranda Vargas/Handout]