Woman charged with DWI after school bus hit
Authorities charged Melody Parsons after a Kia sideswiped a school bus carrying 35 students to Wakefield High School.
Posted — UpdatedTroopers also charged Melody Parsons, 42, with careless and reckless driving.
The crash happened at 6:35 a.m. near New Light Road and N.C. Highway 98. Troopers said a white Kia crossed the center line on New Light Road and struck the bus, which Wake County school district officials identified as No. 565.
Troopers estimated the Kia was traveling 65 mph in a 45-mph zone. After hitting the bus, the car went off the road into a tree, authorities said.
"The investigating trooper suspected a strong odor of alcohol coming from the driver's breath," said Sgt. Jorge Brewer of the state Highway Patrol. "She told the investigating trooper that she had consumed alcohol prior to driving.
As a precaution, emergency crews took seven students to WakeMed North with minor injuries, according to Wake County school district spokesman Bill Poston. All of the students were treated and released.
A second bus picked up the remaining students at 8:10 a.m. and took them to school.
Parsons, who works at a Wake Forest car dealership, was listed in good condition at WakeMed with a broken thumb.
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