A 5-year-old girl was struck by a car and received minor injuries Thursday morning as she was exiting her school bus at Houghtaling Elementary School.
According to Ketchikan Police Department Deputy Chief Josh Dossett, the bus driver had stopped at Revilla School and engaged the flashing red lights.
“The kids began to exit the bus and cross in the crosswalk. The vehicle behind the bus for some reason decided to go around the bus and through the red lights and struck one of the kids in the crosswalk,” he said.
The girl was taken to the hospital by a family member for observation, but Dossett said she didn’t appear to be badly injured.
“Basically, from talking to the officers, the kid was conscious, awake. She had some scrapes and bruises and stuff,” he said.
The 68-year-old woman driving the car was cited for reckless driving. Dosset saidthe police department won’t release the driver’s name until the charges are filed, which likely will happen Friday.
There is a separate charge possible for passing a bus illegally, but Dossett says that is an infraction. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor, and carries a possible sentence of up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
