Motorist cited in school bus accident

Thursday, November 18, 2010

A Callaway Hills Elementary School student was struck by a car after she exited her bus Tuesday after school, but authorities credit the bus driver with keeping the child from being hurt much worse.

According to school district officials, the bus had come to a stop on Route AA, at County Road 482, in Callaway County and the driver had put down the safety arm.

According to Missouri Highway Patrol, this was around 3:26 p.m.

A vehicle driven by Famous L. Bittick, 18, Holts Summit, was following the bus and failed to stop. He slid around the left corner then struck the child, identified as Stalena Whitehead, 7, Holts Summit.

The bus driver, identified by school officials as Dustin Wulf, saw that the car was approaching too fast, honked the bus horn to warn the child who was able to step back before being grazed by the car.

Whitehead was treated on site by emergency responders and taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center where she was treated for bruises and abrasions.

Bittick was wearing a seat belt and was cited for not having insurance along with careless and imprudent driving.

School officials thanked the bus driver for his quick actions as well as the emergency responders for their care of the child.

It is against the law to pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing and the safety arm is down.

Online:

Highway Patrol initial crash report

More like this story

TheRickster 2 years, 6 months ago

A real jack-leg there folks. No insurance and driving like a fool!

misshoneybee 2 years, 6 months ago

He hasn't been driving long enough to have good experience under his belt.

two_cents_worth 2 years, 6 months ago

Famous is now famous...

though...not in a good way...

JCLifer 2 years, 6 months ago

Driving without insurance = 30 days unsupervised probation likely. Should be much more severe than this.

People without required insurance should be treated like common theives.

3kids 2 years, 6 months ago

anyone who lives in areas that are hard to see the buses know to watch for the buses and use added caution. This is no matter the age of the driver

whatchamawhosit 2 years, 6 months ago

If I recall correctly, several (I'm thinking 5+) years ago there was a man walking on Route C in the night and was hit and decapitated...but I believe he had a kid named Famous....wonder if it's the same kid (seems like there probably aren't a whole lot of folks around here with that name). Interesting.

january 2 years, 6 months ago

dulletrimble.com/obit-display.php?rec_id=1244747417

misshoneybee 2 years, 6 months ago

The mother of the child stated to KRCG news that she doesn't blame the driver. I think that's a load of hooey. I bet she would have blamed the driver if her child had been severely injured or killed. This incident doesn't surprise me because nearly every driver on AA travels at a high rate of speed and ignore stop signs. It's wonder that there aren't more accidents on that road. If a Callaway County Deputy would park somewhere on that road or park alongside Platinum Drive on a regular basis, they would issue a good number of citations. In my opinion, from the actions that I have seen from CCSD, traffic stops aren't a priority. They will pull a car over for a traffic stop---once every blue moon.

sallepooh 2 years, 6 months ago

I am the mom the child that was hit. It was not the drivers fault. The bus stop was illegal. Bus drivers and I have requested that they move it due the fact it is a blind spot. The driver was not speeding. He topped the hill and hit his brakes. My husband was at the bus stop when it happened. The cops did not give him a speeding ticket. I blame the school bus company for what happened to my daughter. Yes I am mad, but not at the car driver or the bus driver. The bus has now been moved. But I am still mad that my daughter was hurt because they did not want to take the time to move the stop. Callaway county sherif said that bus stop was against the law. It a completely blind bus stop.

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