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Suspected drunk driver in Oklahoma school bus crash was recently exonerated of murder after 26 years

John Tallbear, 61, was identified as the suspected drunk driver of Friday's crash in Seminole County. He was exonerated of murder last year, having served 27 years behind bars

John Tallbear, 61, was identified as the suspected drunk driver of Friday's crash in Seminole County. He was exonerated of murder last year, having served 27 years behind bars

A suspected drunk driver who crashed into an Oklahoma school bus, killing himself and two others, had recently been exonerated of murder, police say.

John Tallbear, 61, was released from prison last year having served 26 years of a life sentence, after his murder conviction was overturned by a County judge.

New DNA evidence suggested Tallbear had no link to the fatal beating of a homeless man in 1991, and he was released on June 11.

But on Friday, Tallbear was commandeering an SUV carrying one other passenger, when police say he swerved into an oncoming lane in Seminole County and collided with a Konawa Public School bus.

According to police, Tallbear switched from the northbound to the southbound lane on Highway 377 to overtake another driver.

Police say Tallbear swerved into oncoming traffic and later collided head-on with the Konawa School bus. Two children were flown through the front windscreen and both vehicles caught fire

Police say Tallbear swerved into oncoming traffic and later collided head-on with the Konawa School bus. Two children were flown through the front windscreen and both vehicles caught fire

Rhindi Kay Isaacs, 12 Shari Moore

Rhindi Isaacs (left) was killed in Friday nights crash, as her softball team were travelling home from a game in Omkemah. Moore died from 'massive injuries' at the scene. She was the last to be identified

Video courtesy of KFOR 

Seeing the SUV hurtling towards him, driver of the school bus Joseph Scoggins, 30, tried to swerve into the northbound lane to 'avoid a collision'.

But as he did so, Tallbear switched back into his rightful lane at the same time and the two vehicles crashed head-on.

The school bus was transporting a girls' softball team home from a game in Omkemah on Friday night.

Three people were killed, one child and two adults, and six others were injured.

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Tallbear and his passenger, later identified to be Shari Moore, were pinned inside the vehicle which burst into flames.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene and were said to have suffered 'massive injuries'.

Only last week, Tallbear had been charged for driving under the influence in Pottawatomie County.

He had been convicted twice before of a DUI, once in the 1980s and again in the early 1990s.

Johnny Tallbear celebrates his release from prison Monday after being convicted in 1991 of first-degree murder charges in the death of a homeless man

Johnny Tallbear celebrates his release from prison Monday after being convicted in 1991 of first-degree murder charges in the death of a homeless man

Both Tallbear and Moore were said to have been pinned in the vehicle when it caught fire. They were both pronounced dead at the scene

Both Tallbear and Moore were said to have been pinned in the vehicle when it caught fire. They were both pronounced dead at the scene

Tragically, 12-year-old Rhindi Kay Isaacs was also killed at the scene. Two students were thrown through the front windshield of the bus, which later caught fire, according to eye witness reports.

'She loved to make slime and to buy shoes and hoodies, and she loved all of her teammates on the softball team. She had a loving spirit, and loved everyone she met,' a post on the Seminole Police Department Facebook page read.

Maranda Coon was driving north on Highway 377 when Tallbear's SUV sped past her and crashed into the bus. Coon said she had to swerve to avoid the accident.

She then got out of the car and tried to stem the bleeding of two children who had been thrown from the bus with t-shirts she was delivering for work.

'People got here within less than five minute,' Coon told KTUL. 'We helped these girls then all of a sudden, the SUV caught on fire, and then the bus within second and then everything went into flames.'

The Konowa School District cancelled classes on Monday following the accident

The Konowa School District cancelled classes on Monday following the accident

The school bus was transporting a girls' softball team home from a game in Omkemah on Friday night

The school bus was transporting a girls' softball team home from a game in Omkemah on Friday night

Only last week, Tallbear had been charged for driving under the influence in Pottawatomie County. He had been convicted twice before of a DUI, once in the 1980s and again in the early 1990s

Only last week, Tallbear had been charged for driving under the influence in Pottawatomie County. He had been convicted twice before of a DUI, once in the 1980s and again in the early 1990s

The Konowa School District cancelled classes on Monday following the accident. A vigil was held ahead of her funeral on March 15.

Anytime one of your kids gets hurt, you feel it, just like it would be if it were yours,' Superintendent Cory Ellis said.

'At this point, it's definitely going to have an imprint on everybody from here on out, and the best thing we can do is provide support.'

Scoggings was treated for a number of injuries to his arm, legs and head but was later released from hospital. 

Tallbear's condition at the time of the crash remains under investigation, though police suspect he was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

Following his exoneration from last year, Tallbear raised his arms skyward in joy as he exited the Oklahoma County courthouse.

'[I feel a] very great sense of relief,' he said. 'I've been fighting this case for 27 years, ever since they put the handcuffs on.'

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