Forsyth County Sheriff's officials have charged a 19-year-old man for serious injury by vehicle and driving under the influence of drugs, among other charges, in a traffic accident that injured two young sisters and an adult man after the driver allegedly failed to stop for a school bus in Forsyth County.
One of the sisters is a fourth-grade student at Haw Creek Elementary school, is in serious condition in a local hospital, Cpl. Doug Rainwater of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department told WDUN. The other juvenile victim is her sister, a first-grade student at the school.
A family friend, Jose Arturo Corejo-Nunez,43, was walking the two girls to the bus on the right side of the street when a Toyota Camry did not stopped for the school bus, which had its stop arm out and flashers on, and struck all three people, according to the latest information released Friday afternoon by the Sheriff's Office.
Christopher Ray Frachiseur was taken into custody on the scene and charged with the following, according to sheriff's officials:
- Three counts of Serious Injury by Vehicle, Felony
- Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
- Reckless Driving
- Failure to Stop for a School Bus Loading or Unloading
- Too Fast for Conditions
- Due Care While Operating a Motor Vehicle
Frachiseur was uninjured.
Twenty other Haw Creek students were on the bus at the time. A second bus came and took those students to school, where counselors were available, Jennifer Caracciolo, spokeswoman for the school system, said Friday morning. The bus driver was also offered counseling.
“Right now, everyone’s in shock even the teachers and the staff at the school,” Caracciolo said. “Haw Creek is very close-knit community, and right now, our adults are trying to make sure our students feel safe and supported. And that there’s someone there to talk to if they need it.”
The accident happened around 6:55 a.m. on Buford Highway near Bonnie Brea Road and Echols Road in Forsyth County. Rainwater said the bus had fully stopped and the car, traveling east on Buford Highway, jumped the curb and drove to the right of the school bus. That's when all three victims were struck. Rainwater said the older girl was thrown into a ditch by the impact of the collision.
Both girls and Corejo-Nunez were taken by ambulance to a local hospital. Caracciolo said Haw Creek’s principal and assistant principal were both at the hospital with the girls.
The bus was picking up children on its regular route and was headed to Haw Creek Elementary. Caracciolo said the bus driver had undergone extensive training and appears to have done everything he was supposed to do.
“We have wonderful bus drivers who had lots of training,” she said. “As a bus driver, you are the first person to see our students and the last person to see them. It’s very important to them, the relationships they have with our students.”
Buford Highway was blocked near Echols Road for nearly two hours following the accident. The road reopened just after 9 a.m.
