Ghebry Joe Figueroa appears virtually in Brown County court, March 24, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The driver of a coach bus that crashed near some Green Bay warehouses Sunday told police his brakes failed as he exited an on-ramp.
Ghebry Figueroa, 37, of Prospect Heights, Illinois, was charged Tuesday with two counts of knowingly operating a motor vehicle while revoked – causing great bodily harm to another and one count of operating a motor vehicle while disqualified.
Figueroa appeared virtually from the Brown County Jail during an initial court appearance Tuesday. At that time, a $5,000 bond was set. Court records show Figueroa posted that bail amount within a few hours. A condition of bond includes no driving without a valid license.
“The reason for the cash bond is the defendant has several driving-related convictions. It seems that he’s on probation in the state of Illinois for what seems to be an aggravated case involving operating after revocation in 2024. It appears he has two prior OWIs and has been convicted multiple times in the past for operating while suspended,” said Assistant District Attorney Lisa Kaster in court. “Both his regular and commercial driver’s licenses are revoked, yet he is driving a bus full of people — 54 people — and claims that both the regular brakes and back-up breaks failed.”
Figueroa returns to court April 1 for a preliminary hearing.
One victim from the bus crash appeared in court from a hospital bed using a cell phone, saying, “he messed up my life” while asking for the $5,000 cash bond requested by the prosecution.
The defense asked for a $2,500 cash bond.
“I spoke with [Figueroa] today. He understands the very serious nature of these offenses and understands that he needs to make all of his court appearances,” said Figueroa’s attorney. He was hired privately, not appointed by the public defender’s office.
The bus was traveling from Chicago to the Island Resort and Casino in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula when it left Interstate Highway 43, went down the Webster Avenue off ramp, crossed the road, went down an embankment and stopped amid warehouses.
Of the 54 people on board the bus, 36 were taken to local hospitals. The Green Bay Police Department said Tuesday a total of 41 people were injured in the crash. The passengers’ injuries ranged from bumps and bruises to a broken arm and ribs for one, and a spine fracture for another.
Kaster said most of the victims were “elderly.”
HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay treated some of the passengers. They shared a statement that reads in part:
In response, mass casualty protocols were activated at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay. These protocols are in place for situations like this, and we can confirm they were fully implemented as designed. Our teams responded with urgency, compassion and coordination, ensuring patients received the care they needed as quickly and safely as possible.
Figueroa told police he was getting off the highway to refuel.
While attempting to slow down to take the exit, Figueroa advised that his brakes were not functioning properly. He attempted several times to ‘pump’ the brakes, however, the bus only slowed down slightly while getting on to the exit ramp. He then attempted to utilize the emergency brake, however, he stated that it did not work either,” the complaint states
At the hospital, a field sobriety test was performed on Figueroa. No signs of intoxication were detected.
Figueroa initially told police he had a valid driver’s license but later acknowledged he did not. A records check said he had revoked personal and commercial driver licenses, the complaint states.
Figueroa was also convicted in Cook County, Illinois, in 2024 of driving with a revoked license due to a driving while under the influence conviction, the complaint states.
Figueroa’s Facebook page lists him as the owner of Lucky Charter and Tours, based in Wheeling, Illinois.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Lucky Charter and Tours is not authorized to operate interstate, as it appears the company was doing. Lucky Charter and Tours didn’t report any crashes in the last two years.
The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office says Figueroa has not had a valid Illinois driver’s license since 2017, when it was suspended in a driving under the influence case. Figueroa had a commercial driver’s license at the time.
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