An Allegheny County jury convicted a mechanic Thursday of involuntary manslaughter for failing to fix the brakes on a school van involved in a fatal crash.

Prosecutors said Mark Fabian, 35, of the North Side, was a direct cause of the Sept. 3, 2008 crash in Brookline that killed teacher's aide Colleen Visconti, 53, and injured two Pittsburgh Public Schools special-needs students.

The jury of eight women and four men deliberated 90 minutes before returning guilty verdicts on one count of involuntary manslaughter and four counts of reckless endangerment.

Fabian's family and attorneys declined to comment.

Common Pleas Judge Joseph K. Williams revoked Fabian's bond and sent him to jail pending his Dec. 1 sentencing.

Jennifer Logan, the driver of the van, testified she had complained the morning of the crash that the van's brakes were not working properly. When Logan returned for her afternoon shift to pick up the students, she was given the same van.

Logan testified that the van's brakes failed on a steep hill on Dunster Street and crashed into a tree.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Schupansky contended that Fabian, a mechanic for A-1 Transit in Lawrenceville, lied and wrote a false report about pulling off all four tires; inspecting and measuring the brake pads and shoes; and making an adjustment.

"I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders," said Logan, 30. "He should have been convicted. He didn't do anything (to fix the brakes that day)."

Visconti, of Bellevue, died from her injuries nine days after the crash. The children -- Walter Chancellor, then 6, and Tyler Blazier, then 10 -- suffered bruises and scrapes. Logan broke an ankle and a rib and required stitches.

Visconti worked with Blazier.

Jean Blazier, Tyler's mother, said the jury made the right decision.

"Justice has prevailed," she said.

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