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No charges seen against vets parade crash driver

MIDLAND, Texas Officials of a West Texas city where four wounded veterans died when a train slammed into their parade float say the driver of the truck towing the float won't be charged.

Midland spokeswoman Sara Higgins says no charges will be filed against Dale Andrew Hayden, of Midland. She also said the police report on the crash soon will be sent to the Midland County district attorney.

Assistant District Attorney Steve Stallings tells the Midland Reporter-Telegram no decision on charges will come until the report is completed.

But he tells the newspaper that generally, the Midland Police Department has to file charges before the DA's office can prepare an indictment, after which a defendant could be put before a grand jury. Stallings said he didn't know of any indictments against Hayden.

A National Transportation Safety Board spokesman says board investigators haven't questioned Hayden. Higgins wouldn't say if Midland police had done so.

Four veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were killed and 16 more people were injured in the Nov. 15 collision.

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