Brittany Nichole Hughes

SYRACUSE — A Cromwell woman who told police she forgot the law regarding stopping for a school bus with its stop arm out and activated, was arrested by police Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 20.

Brittany Nichole Hughes, 23, 12022 N. Sir Gallahad Place, Cromwell, was booked on a charge of reckless driving — passing a school bus. According to Indiana Code 9-21-8-52 (b) — “A person who operates a vehicle and who recklessly passes a school bus stopped on a roadway when the arm signal device specified in IC 9-21-12-13 is in the device’s extended position commits a class B misdemeanor ….” A class B misdemeanor carries a penalty of up to 180 days in jail and a fine up to $1,000 (IC 35-50-3-3). She was held on $450 bond.

Police were notified at 3:41 p.m. Tuesday to be on the lookout for a reckless driver northbound on SR 13 from North Webster who had disregarded a stopped school bus with its flashing lights activated and kids getting off the bus. A Syracuse police officer spotted the vehicle at South Huntington and Bowser Road and made a traffic stop.

The officer advised the driver, identified as Hughes, why he stopped her. She told the officer she forgot as she normally does not drive and hasn’t really messed with school buses. When the officer asked if she forgot when a school bus is stopped with its crossing guards out she is to stop, she replied yes.

The witness who saw the violation and notified authorities gave police a recorded statement. That witness told police they were in the area of Circle K Gas station in North Webster, when she, the witness, saw a bus stopped. The bus was facing south with the lights on, crossing guards out and kids going down the steps of the bus. The witness stated she saw the vehicle, later identified as that driven by Hughes, go past the school bus heading north. Police were told the bus driver honked the horn of the bus, trying to notify the other vehicle of kids trying to get off the bus, but the driver of the vehicle did not stop.

The witness was able to follow the vehicle into Syracuse. The witness also stated they had not passed any more buses.