N. Carolina school bus crash injuring 13 yields more charges

TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. – The woman charged with hitting a school bus that overturned in North Carolina is now charged with misdemeanour child abuse.

News outlets report that the North Carolina Highway Patrol initially charged 56-year-old Kimberly Ann Austin with driving while impaired and driving left of centre in the Monday crash that sent 13 middle school students to the hospital. Officials announced Tuesday that she’s also charged with two counts of misdemeanour child abuse.

Troopers say Austin hit the bus carrying a driver and 19 students. Twelve students suffered minor injuries, while a 13th was hospitalized in critical condition but expected to survive. Austin and the bus driver were also hurt.

Austin told WBTV-TV on Tuesday that she wasn’t drunk but is “torn up over the whole thing.”