Children Hit By Car While Boarding Bus, Driv
637 views · Published 27 January 2015 · 3:00 · Indexed 30 September 2026
Channel: WLOS News 13 · 2015 · News & Politics
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY, N.C. -- The 85-year-old man who troopers say hit three children while they were boarding their school bus Friday morning has been charged. Floyd Hipps was charged Friday afternoon with felony failure to stop for a stopped school bus and failure to reduce speed. Hipps, of Brevard, was traveling east on Greenville Highway around 7:15 a.m. Friday when he hit the children as they were crossing to board their bus, troopers say. Troopers say Hipps told them he didn't see the kids. Transylvania County Schools identified the three children injured as Lisa Conforti (Gr 9 Brevard High School), McKenzie Shuler (Gr 7 Brevard Middle School) and Sean Conforti (Gr 4 Brevard Elementary School). Bus 77 was traveling west on Greenville Highway en route to Brevard Middle when it stopped in front of the Connestee Falls subdivision's main entrance to pick up a group of about five children. Authorities say the bus was completely stopped and had its stop arm out and red lights activated at the time the kids were crossing the road to get on the bus. Troopers say Hipps, who was driving a 2013 Ford Explorer, failed to stop and struck three of the children crossing the road, knocking two of them down. There are dual interior cameras on Bus 77, but not stop arm cameras, the school system sayss. Because Hipps is charged with a felony, the video will not be released at this time and will be used for evidence. All three students were transported for medical care: two airlifted to Mission Hospital in Asheville, one driven by ambulance to Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard. One student sustained a concussion and is expected to be discharged. Another sustained a skull fracture, while the third has a broken femur. Both students airlifted to Asheville continue to be watched and treated for their injuries. At the time of the incident, five to six other students were also waiting to cross Greenville Highway to board the bus. About 15 students from Brevard Elementary, Brevard Middle, and Brevard High were already on the bus at the time. After students on the bus arrived at school, counselors and administrators provided care for parents and students. All were given the opportunity to go home or remain in school for the day. Friday was the last day of school before the Christmas break for Transylvania County students. News 13 will have more on this online and tonight at 5, 6, and 11. _______________ Follow WLOS on social media: WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News13/ WLOS ABC 13 News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WLOS_13 WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: https://instagram.com/wlos_13 Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1 Listen to AnchorMOMS, the Podcast: https://wlos.com/news/anchormoms/anchormoms-the-podcast Watch more top local news stories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk8Ge6UXHJs&list=PLkVbaoT-aYbIvnEpR0Ct5QQQqYaORUSUH For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit http://www.wlos.com Watch our live newscasts and other live video at https://wlos.com/watch Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340 WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
