Probation in firefighter's freeway death

BENTON -- The driver of a Greyhound bus that struck and killed a southern Illinois firefighter has been sentenced to two years of probation as part of a plea deal with prosecutors.

Sammie Rogers of Chicago entered an Alford plea Wednesday in Benton County to misdemeanor reckless driving. Prosecutors dropped a reckless homicide count.

Under such a plea, a defendant doesn't admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors have sufficient evidence for a conviction.

Authorities say the bus hit volunteer Sesser firefighter James Miller on Interstate 57 in July 2007. The 43-year-old Miller had just helped douse a tractor-trailer blaze along the freeway.

Rogers and the bus passengers weren't hurt.

The prosecutor says he agreed to the plea deal at the behest of the victim's widow.