UPDATED: Daleville school bus driver runs over car, arrested

Daleville police arrested a 63-year-old woman Monday, June 13, for running her school bus over an unoccupied vehicle.

Rosemarie Sustinto Lawhorn of Ozark was charged with misdemeanor reckless endangerment and duty upon striking an unoccupied vehicle stemming from an incident May 16 involving the school bus she was driving and an unoccupied car.

According to police records, a Daleville resident reported that a school bus ran over his car and kept going at or near Lookout Drive and Allison Drive. The police report states the vehicle suffered major damage and that it, “appeared the back tires of the school bus made contact with the vehicle” evidently driving “across the hood and the driver’s side front fender. There were tire marks across the hood of the vehicle…”

Officials said video evidence show the bus had students on board when the bus made contact with the car.

School Superintendent Dr. Diane Flournoy said, "Daleville City Schools has been informed that one of its bus drivers, Rosemarie Lawhorn, was arrested. It is alleged that the Daleville City Schools bus she was driving struck an unoccupied vehicle. Daleville City Schools administrators have cooperated with law enforcement since the beginning of this investigation.

"Further, the school system will continue to investigate this matter and determine what actions, if any, are necessary for the school system to take at this time. The safety and well-being of our students has and will continue to be the focus of the school system as it evaluates and takes action on this matter.

Alabama Code Section 32-10-3 states a charge of duty upon striking an unoccupied vehicle applies when a driver of any motor vehicle collides with another “motor vehicle or other vehicle which is unattended shall immediately stop and shall then and there either locate and notify the operator or owner of such vehicle of the name and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle striking the unattended vehicle or shall leave in a conspicuous place in or on the vehicle struck a written notice giving the name and address of the driver and/or the owner of the vehicle doing the striking and a statement of the circumstances thereof.”

It is alleged that Lawhorn did not stop.

Alabama Code Section 13A-6-24 states a charge of reckless endangerment applies if “a person…recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury to another person.

Both charges are Class A misdemeanors. Lawhorn is out of jail on bond.