Distracted Driver Nearly Hits 1st Grader At Bus Stop

A first-grade student narrowly escaped injury after a driver failed to yield to a stopped school bus in Knox County.

On August 22nd at 4:13 p.m. the Knox County Sheriff’s Office investigated a report of a red Toyota Tacoma that failed to stop for a Crofton school bus. On Highway 121 North of Crofton, the driver of the pickup seemed to be distracted while talking on a cell phone at the time of the incident. The bus driver honked his horn to get the attention of the driver. Alarmed the driver slammed on the brakes just barely avoiding the first grader crossing the highway. After slamming his brakes, the driver continued to speed off before the bus retracted its stop arm.

A license plate number was obtained by the mother of the first grader and provided to the sheriff’s office. The incident is still under investigation, and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office is teaming up with the Yankton County Sheriff’s Office in attempt to locate the driver.