Wilson County, NC police officers arrested Marcos Santiago-Bautista, 27, after he allegedly ran over two children, ages 5 and 10, as they were boarding a school bus on Rock Ridge Sims Road, Examiner reported on Thursday. The two victims are brother and sister, and attend Rock Ridge Elementary School in Wilson County.
The kids were transported to Wake Med and treated for several broken bones. They are currently listed in serious condition at the hospital. Their mother saw her children being struck by the SUV outside of her house.
Santiago-Bautista fled from the scene in his Ford Explorer and left the children lying in the street. The vehicle was later found parked behind a tobacco barn about a mile from the scene, according to court documents. It is suspected he is an illegal alien which may have been why he fled the scence, but officials have not yet confirmed that fact.
Santiago-Bautista has been charged with felony hit and run, felony passing a stopped school bus, driving without a license, no vehicle registration, driving without insurance and fictitious tags. He is currently being held on a $30,000 bond at the Wilson County Jail, according to WRAL. Officers said there was no indication that alcohol or the weather affected the wreck,
Investigators said the school bus had stopped outside the children's home around 6:50 a.m. with its stop arm and caution light activated for the siblings to cross the road when the Explorer, traveling in the opposite direction, hit the children as they crossed the street. They were the first children to board the bus that morning.
"We are collaborating with law enforcement and ask that you keep these students and their families in your thoughts today," a Wilson County Schools spokeswoman said in a statement, reported by WRAL.
Thursday's accident is the third incident of young students being hit by cars in the last two weeks.
Michael Burgess Jr., 11, is recovering from his injuries after a 16-year-old driver hit him Tuesday morning when she allegedly didn't see a stopped bus in southern Wake County because of fog.
Keith Jones Jr., of Wendell, was struck and killed Sept. 23 after a man on his way to work hit the 13-year-old, who was waiting for the school bus outside his house.
