An Alabama school bus driver has been indicted on homicide charges following a crash that killed a 42-year-old woman in Auburn in November 2025. Theresa McCloud, 75, faces charges of homicide by vehicle and criminally negligent homicide after authorities investigated the collision between the school bus and a passenger vehicle.
The case has drawn additional attention because McCloud’s supporters say she experienced a sudden medical emergency while behind the wheel.
Fatal Auburn Crash Led to Homicide Charges
The crash occurred shortly after 8 a.m. on Nov. 18, 2025, near the 1000 block of East University Drive in Auburn, Alabama.
Police said a school bus driven by McCloud collided with a passenger vehicle. Jennifer Leigh Cooper, 42, was fatally injured and later pronounced dead. Cooper was known locally as the owner of Gigi’s Cupcakes.
Emergency crews, including Auburn police, firefighters and medical personnel, responded to the scene. Authorities said the students riding on the school bus were safely taken to school, and their families were contacted.
Following an investigation by the Auburn Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Unit, a Lee County grand jury indicted McCloud on the two charges.
McCloud was arrested on Sept. 3, 2026, and initially held at the Lee County Jail on a $12,000 bond.
Supporters Say Driver Suffered Medical Crisis
After McCloud’s arrest, family members and supporters disputed the suggestion that the crash was simply the result of negligent driving.
They said McCloud experienced a severe drop in blood sugar while driving, allegedly causing confusion and loss of consciousness. A fundraising campaign created to help with her legal defense reportedly described the episode as an unexpected medical crisis.
The campaign was later removed because of the fundraising platform’s policy concerning legal-defense fundraising for people charged with violent crimes.
A separate civil lawsuit filed on behalf of Cooper’s family presents additional allegations. The lawsuit claims McCloud had diabetes and had recently been prescribed opioid medication. It also alleges that she told school officials she did not feel well enough to work on the day of the crash.
According to the allegations, McCloud had received the medication two days before the collision and had been warned about driving while taking it.
McCloud’s supporters have disputed those claims, maintaining that she had never previously experienced a low-blood-sugar episode.
Cooper’s Family Awaits Justice as Case Moves Forward
Attorneys representing Cooper’s estate said the arrest represents an important development in the legal process but acknowledged that no court action can bring Cooper back.
The family has expressed confidence in the justice system while asking the community to remember the importance of ensuring that school bus drivers are medically and physically capable of safely operating a vehicle.
The criminal case against McCloud remains ongoing. The allegations against her have not been proven in court, and the legal proceedings will determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
