Former Utah School Bus Driver Admits to Setting a School Bus on Fire (DOJ)

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - A former Utah school bus driver admitted to setting a bus on fire with a cigarette lighter while driving it. The bus was owned by a local school district receiving federal funds.

Michael Austin Ford, 60, of West Valley City, was indicted on February 21, 2024.

According to court documents and admissions made at Ford's change of plea hearing, he intentionally set a Granite School District school bus on fire with a cigarette lighter on April 7, 2023. Ford was captured on video igniting the bus and continued to drive the bus with smoke billowing past his face. In other court documents, prosecutors described evidence of Ford as having attempted to tamper with the bus's video surveillance system in the days preceding the April 2023 arson.

On a separate occasion in February 2022, Ford was also accused of setting a Granite School District school bus on fire that had 42 children inside and did so while driving in traffic. See prior press release: Former School Bus Driver Accused of Igniting a Bus Full of Children is Indicted and Detained.

"It is our hope Ford is sentenced to the term of imprisonment that will protect our community from his careless disregard for safety and the law," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah.

"Children are among our most vulnerable population. When someone intentionally threatens their safety through violent crimes involving fire, it is especially disturbing and such cases will always remain a top priority for our agency," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Chris Ashbridge. "Our agents worked tirelessly on this investigation, utilizing all available resources to ensure those who commit such callous acts are held fully accountable and our community is protected from further violence."

Ford is scheduled to be sentenced June 1, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in courtroom 8.3 before a U.S. District Court Judge at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case.

Assistant United States Michael J. Thorpe of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.