Fog May Be Factor In Separate School Bus Crossing Accidents

The child who died, Miguel Posada, 6, of Perez Road in Red Springs, was crossing the street at a school bus stop in Robeson County when he was hit by a car, authorities said.

Posada had been in a car with his mother and some cousins when the eastbound bus pulled up at the stop at Old Lowery Road, two miles from Red Springs. Posada got out of the car and was crossing the road to the bus when he was hit by a westbound Nissan Altima driven by Vearlene Harrell, 49, of Community Road in St. Pauls.

A nurse assistant was passing by just after the accident tried to revive Posada by using CPR.

"I worked for 15 minutes and there was just nothing I could do for him," said Beverly Emanuel.

Harrell was charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle and failure to stop for a school bus and was released on her own recognizance. Grief counselors spent the day at Peterson Elementary School in Red Spings to help the students.

In Johnston County, two students were injured after a car hit them when the driver did not stop for a school bus stop arm, authorities said.

The accident happened at 6:48 a.m. on North Shiloh Road in the Crestwood subdivision in Johnston County. A motorist driving a 1990 Chevrolet pickup truck ran a school bus stop arm and struck two students, said 1st Sgt. Everett Clendenin, public information officer for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

The students, who are brother and sister, were transported to WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh for treatment. Chris Hodges, 15, a 10th-grader, is listed in good condition. His sister, Karie Hodges, 14, a ninth-grader, is listed in fair condition.

Patricia Harris, principal at West Johnston High, said she rushed to the scene when she got word of the accident.

"I think it's important to all my students, and I have 581 of them, to know that I am there in every situation," she said.

The driver in the Johnston County incident, Vincent Todd Stone, 41, is from Clayton, Clendenin said. Charges are pending. Stone indicated to troopers that he saw the lights, but thought the bus was pulling away.