An attorney for the Bel Air man charged in the September crash that killed a C. Milton Wright High student is asking the public to keep an open mind about what happened.

“There has been public speculation about the circumstances of the collision that may not ultimately be supported by the evidence. We are confident that when the evidence is fully examined in court, it will provide clarity,” wrote James McGuinn, a lawyer for John Gaeta.

Gaeta, who was arrested Feb. 20, was released later that day after a judge lowered his bond from $50,000 to $10,000, according to court records. He’s accused of crashing his Dodge Journey into the back of a Lexus IS on Route 543, causing the Lexus to be pushed into the path of a school bus on Crescent Knoll Drive on Sept. 18, according to an initial crash report.

The Lexus’ 17-year-old driver, Zach Griffin, was critically injured, and his passenger, 16-year-old Blake Elliott, was killed, according to the report.

Griffin’s father, Jamie Griffin, sued Gaeta and his own auto insurance company in November for an amount greater than $75,000. That case remains open. Mark Rosasco, who represents Griffin in the case, has not responded to a request for comment.

Gaeta’s attorney for the civil lawsuit, Ted Staples, said he plans to see if any victims from the school bus also pursue legal action. Staples said it does not make sense to resolve the civil cases piecemeal. Court records do not show any other cases filed against Gaeta, as of Thursday.

Harford County Public Schools referred questions about school bus victims to the Sheriff’s Office.

Staples said it is an emotional case, as “nothing is going to bring this young woman back.”

McGuinn, Gaeta’s attorney for the criminal case, also said in a statement: “This is a heartbreaking tragedy that has deeply affected not only the families involved, but the entire community. No statement can lessen that loss, and our client recognizes the profound impact this has had on so many people… We respectfully ask that this case be decided on the facts presented in court — not on rumor or assumption — and that the community allow the legal process to unfold with an open mind.”

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