Troopers arrest driver they say struck teen getting off bus

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. — Troopers charged a driver in a hit-and-run that injured a student in Douglas County.

According to officials with Georgia State Patrol, a Douglas County school bus was unloading students at the intersection of Bomar Road and Springside Court Monday at about 4 p.m., when an Acura attempted to pass the school bus. Troopers said the driver tried to pass the bus in a no passing zone while students were crossing the street.

The driver, identified as 46-year-old Yung Lam of Maspath, New York, was arrested shortly after, troopers said.

She was charged with reckless driving, failure to stop for school bus loading or unloading, passing in a no passing zone, driver to exercise due care, and hit and run/leaving scene of an accident, according to Georgia State Patrol officials.

“It’s kind of disappointing how she just let a little girl just like stay there without checking on her,” a parent said.

Witnesses said they were shocked that the driver struck the teen and then took off.

“We got off the bus and we waited behind the yellow pole and then the lady went around the bus and she side-swiped us,” Jason Hardie said.

Police say the woman should have stayed behind the school bus until all the students were off the bus.

They said instead, she went around the bus, and ran over 17-year-old Destiny Wilson’s foot.

Witnesses said the driver stopped briefly, and then left the scene.

The victim told her grandmother that the driver said something to her before she drove away.

“She said she asked her, ‘Are you ok?’ and then left,” Wilson’s grandmother, Jen Hutto, told Channel 2’s Tyisha Fernandes.

Police arrested the driver later Monday evening.

Hutto said she took Wilson to a nearby hospital.

She said there were not any obvious bones sticking out of her.

“There can be broken bones inside. We really don't really know,” Hutto said.

Hutto returned to the site of the wreck Monday night to give Channel 2 Action News an update on Wilson’s condition.

“She’s going to be OK. I think she’ll be alright, she’s just upset and scared,” Hutto said.

Stay with WSBTV.com and watch Channel 2 Action News for the latest on this developing story.

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