Driver Hits Several Children at Bus Stop
1,022 views · Published 27 January 2015 · 3:48 · Indexed 28 September 2026
Channel: WLOS News 13 · 2015 · News & Politics
10:35AM According to the DOT, as of 10:35AM, all lanes for US-276 have reopened. _________________________________________________________ 10:25AM RALEIGH - A preliminary investigation has revealed that on Friday, December 19, 2014 at approximately 7:30 a.m., a 2013 Ford Explorer operated by Floyd Hipps, 85, of 494 Pine Shore Drive Brevard, N.C. was traveling east on US 276. A school bus, traveling west on U.S. 276, stopped at a bus stop to pick up children going to Brevard Middle School. The school bus driver had the stop arm and red lights activated while completely stopped within the roadway. Mr. Hipps failed to stop and struck three (3) children crossing the roadway attempting to get on the bus. Children struck: Lisa Conforti, 15, of Brevard Transported to Mission Hospital with minor injuries. Sean Conforti, 10, of Brevard Transported to Mission Hospital with serious injuries (non-life threatening). Mackenzie Shuler, 12, of Brevard Transported to Transylvania County Hospital with minor injuries. Charges pertaining to the collision are pending at this time. ______________________________________________________ 9:30AM Trooper Kelly Rhodes now says three children, not four, were hit by a 2013 Ford Explorer driven by 85 year old Floyd Hipps of Brevard. Trooper Rhodes says Hipps was traveling East on Greenville Highway when he hit the children, ages 15, 10, and 9, who were crossing the road to get on the school bus. The school but was stopped with the stop arm out when the children were hit. All three children were transported, two via MAMA and one via ambulance. Charges are pending against Hipps. __________________________________________________________ 8:35AM Brevard Fire Department Assistant Chief B. Elmore says the accident happened at the Connestee Falls main subdivision entrance, at around 7:15AM Friday morning. Elmore says he believes the four children were hit while boarding their school bus. Trooper Kelly Rhodes says two children were airlifted, two others taken by ambulance. Rhodes says the children were crossing the road to get on the bus. An elderly man says he did not see them and hit them. All of the children area being transported to Mission Hospital. Highway 276 remains closed at this time. People are asked to avoid the area. ___________________________________________________________ 8:25AM The Highway Patrol confirms four children were hit. At this time, two have been airlifted by MAMA, two remain at the scene. There is no cell phone service in the area so updates are taking a bit of time. __________________________________________________________ 7:30AM Transylvania County officials confirm, multiple crews are responding to a crash at Connestee Trail and Greenville Highway in the Brevard area. We're hearing reports involving a vehicle hitting "multiple" children. Officials are asking people to please avoid the area. Greenville Highway at Connestee Trail is currently closed. This is all very preliminary information, details are likely to change rapidly. We will bring you updates as available. _______________ 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.
