Driver of government car charged after hitting school bus returning from field trip

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — The driver of a Davison County SUV was charged after the Chevy Equinox they were driving hit a school bus packed with kindergartners, troopers said.

Lauren Milliken Hutton, 33, of Thomasville, was driving the Equinox east on N.C. Highway 150 in Rowan County, when they crossed the center line near Scottish Drive, hitting the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school bus that was returning from a field trip, officials said.

The bus was leaving Patterson Farm when it was hit head-on in a 55 mph zone, officials told Channel 9. The children were participating in the “Farmer for the Day” tour.

The 45 children on board, who were from Torrence Creek Elementary School in Huntersville, were not injured.

Rowan County Emergency Services said two people in the SUV were hurt. Hutton had serious injuries, and a juvenile had minor injuries, troopers said.

One had to be cut out, and they were both taken to a hospital.

The driver said they had a medical condition while on the road.

Hutton was charged with driving left of center and a seat belt violation.

The 54-year-old school bus driver was not charged.

‘Super scared’

Parents reunite with their kids after Rowan County bus crash.

Channel 9’s Glenn Counts went to Torrence Creek Elementary School, where parents reunited with their young children.

“I thought, like from the back, something hit it, but it was actually the front,” said Emmy, who was on the bus.

“In the front, there was a big car crash,” said Noland, who was also a passenger on board.

Counts asked, “So, did you feel like a bump or something?”

“Yeah, it felt like we a ran over a bump,” Noland said.

Word quickly spread about the crash.

“Oh, I was panicked,” said parent Katy Barrios. “I mean, that’s the last thing you want to hear when your kids are away from you, and you’re not there.”

“I was super scared,” said Meghan Johnson, Nolan’s mother. “I knew the teachers had them. We immediately got a message that everybody was OK.”

Since the kids were OK, the rapid response from first responders provided some entertainment.

“And the firemen came, and the police came, and the ambulance came,” said student Ellie. “I was totally surprised.”

‘Children laughing’

Firefighters brought an extra truck after the wreck, and there was a therapy dog at the scene.

The community helped everyone involved, including a family on the property.

“When we got here, to my pleasant surprise, this wonderful homeowner had opened her home,” said Deputy Chief Allyson Summit, Rowan County Emergency Services. “The kids were able to use the restroom. They were able to come out and sit under the shaded tree.”

Summit added that people from Patterson Farm came out and gave them food and water.

“It was great just to hear the children laughing,” Summit said. “There were a few that were scared, but those fears subsided once they were with their friends. And they kind of started playing.”

VIDEO: Parents reunited with children after bus crash