Three Children Struck in School Bus Accident | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

Two children were airlifted to Transylvania County Hospital Friday morning after being struck by a car as they were about to board a school bus in Brevard, N.C. A third child was transported from the scene to the hospital by ambulance. At the time of the accident, there were six other children also getting ready to board the school bus, however, none of them were hit by the vehicle, which was being driven by an 85 year-old Brevard man.

According to law enforcement, the three children, along with the other students, were waiting for the bus at U.S. 276 (Greenville Highway) at Connestee Trail. The school bus was stopped in the westbound lane and had its lights flashing and stop arm out. As the children were crossing the street to board the bus, the elderly driver, who was traveling eastbound in his 2013 Ford Explorer, hit three of them. The driver told police he did not see the school bus, stop arm, flashing lights, or the children.

The two children who were airlifted to the hospital, a 15 year-old girl and a 10 year-old boy, are siblings. The girl, who suffered a broken femur in the accident, has been released from the hospital, but her brother, who sustained a skull fracture from the impact, remains hospitalized. The third victim, a 12 year-old girl, suffered a concussion, and was also released from the hospital.

The driver has been charged with felony failure to stop for a school bus and failure to reduce speed. He was released on a $50,000 unsecured bond. Accident investigators have impounded his car to see if the can determine how fast he was driving when he slammed into the children.

Our North Carolina personal injury law firm has reported on countless incidents of children being struck by vehicles as they were attempting to board a school bus. According to state statistics, there have been over a dozen children killed in these accidents in the past 15 years. Road studies have revealed that one out of every five North Carolina school buses is illegally passed every day. 

If your child has been injured by a driver illegally passing a school bus, contact an experienced North Carolina personal injury attorney today to find out what legal recourse you may have against the driver.