School Bus

Girl, 12, Gets Minor Injuries in Vehicle Accident After Driver Looks Down at Ringing Phone

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A 12-year-old Darien girl who was crossing the Post Road received scrapes and bruises when she was hit Tuesday by the passenger-side mirror of a pickup truck as the driver looked down at a ringing phone, Darien police said. The driver, a 35-year-old Rowayton man, fully co-operated with police and stayed at the scene until police came, police said. He was issued an infraction ticket charging him with failure to stop for a school bus (which carries a $465 fine) and distracted driving (a $150 fine). He can either pay the tickets or contest one or both in court. Here’s how police described the incident (including accusations against the driver that have not been proven in court):

At 4:10 p.m., Tuesday, the school bus had just let out students on the south side of the road, facing east near the intersection of the Post Road (U.S. Route 1) and Outlook Drive.