N.C. bus driver: No memory of wreck

MANTEO, N.C.

The driver of a bus that struck another bus from behind three times in a row on Monday told police she has no memory of striking the bus in front of her, Manteo police said Tuesday.

The driver, Betty Etheridge, has been issued a citation for failure to reduce speed, Manteo police Officer Ray Arbaugh said.

Results of drug and alcohol tests of the drivers were not available, but Arbaugh said that there is no indication that Etheridge was intoxicated.

Twenty-eight students and the two drivers were uninjured, Dare County Schools transportation director David Twiddy said Tuesday.

The first school bus had slowed down on U.S. 64 to make a left turn onto Harriot Street in Manteo at about 3 p.m. Monday when it was struck by the other bus, police said. The students were coming from Manteo Middle School and Dare County Alternative School, Twiddy said.

"When he was struck, he moved up a little bit," Arbaugh said about the driver of the first bus.

After the bus was hit the second time, Arbaugh said, the driver moved up again, and the bus behind him hit his bus a third time before stopping.

"It was a pretty good whump," the officer said. "There's quite a significant amount of damage."

The buses had damage to a radiator and bumpers, and glass was broken, he said. No damage estimate was available Tuesday.

Fourteen students and both drivers were taken to The Outer Banks Hospital to be checked, and all were released, Twiddy said.

Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com