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Published: 2012-11-07 14:05:00
Updated: 2012-11-08 11:20:03

Former school bus driver charged in motorcyclist's death


Tammy Starling Clay
Tammy Starling Clay
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A former school bus driver for Johnston County Schools has been charged in connection with a fatal crash involving a motorcyclist.

Tammy Starling Clay, 44, of Matthews Way in Willow Spring, was arrested Thursday in connection with the Oct. 24 death of Carol Lynn Sutherland. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said Sutherland died when Clay pulled her bus into the cyclist’s path.

Clay, who was driving a bus for McGee's Crossroads Elementary School, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

Tracey Peedin Jones, a public information officer for Johnston County Schools, says Clay resigned from her job Oct. 31.


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Some of these comments are downright offensive to the victim, the driver and the families. This is not a "waste of taxpayer money." I'm curious to see how you'd feel if it were your family member, someone with two children at home. This is why we have a judicial system. A lot of lives were deeply affected in those few minutes and nothing anyone can do will make the families whole again. How would you compensate someone for the loss of a life?

Carol was about 1 mile from her home when she was hit and killed. This part of Lansing Drive IS NOT in a curve or on a hill. I drive it every single day. The bus took a left right in front of her. Carol hit the bus and died. Yes, it was an accident. But the bus driver turned in front of her.

She had just hung up with her 15 year old Son, telling him she'd be home in 10 minutes to start dinner.

The kids on the bus witnessed nothing except Carol lying in the ditch after being hit by a bus that had just turned in front of her.

There is no evil, county, government, law enforcement conspiracy to make anyone "look better". The picture that was posted from the scene on the news showed the bus turned in front of the motorcyclist. Even I could see that, before knowing anything.

This was the second bus accident this driver had this year, also my daughter used to ride this bus and I pulled her off that bus cause she would let her sit in on the floor if there was not enough seats. It took the dealth of a wonderful mother to finally do something about her. This is very sad!

Title was changed to reflect that it was a motorcycle and not a "cyclist" (Inferring bicycle.)

Wasn't in Dunn, was in Benson. And like I said earlier, my son was on that bus, and no Police agency has asked to speak to him to get information. She needs to be guilty because it benefits the County. There was a "Scene investigation". They have the evidence they want to convict her, and have ignored all of the evidence that makes it what it is AN ACCIDENT.

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