WASHINGTON, March 1 (Xinhua) -- An ex-school bus driver on Thursday was found guilty of six counts of criminally negligent assault in a 2016 crash that killed six elementary school children in the southern U.S. state Tennessee.

Johnthony Walker was also found guilty of 11 counts of reckless aggravated assault, seven counts of assault, one count of reckless endangerment, one count of reckless driving and one count of use of a portable electronic device by a school bus driver.

The jury deliberated about six hours before reaching a verdict of guilty on all counts, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

In November 2016, Walker, aged 24 at the time, lost control of a school bus with 37 young students on board. Six children died from injuries after he struck a telephone pole and a tree. A video from the bus shows he had his cellphone in hand as the children boarded the vehicle.

"It all could have been avoided if Johnthony Walker had slowed down below the speed limit and stayed off his phone," an ABC News report quoted prosecutor Crystle Carrion as saying.

Walker is set for sentencing on April 24.