- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Kelseyville woman arrested for DUI after hitting school bus
Sandra Jean Burnett, 57, was booked into the Lake County Jail late Thursday night on felony charges of driving under the influence causing bodily injury and being under the influence of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm, and misdemeanor charges of driving on a license suspended for DUI, an addict driving a vehicle and a misdemeanor probation violation, according to her booking sheet.
An initial collision report completed by California Highway Patrol Officer Nick Powell said that the crash between Burnett's 2000 Chevy Prizm and the 1994 Thomas Type 1 School Bus occurred at 2:40 p.m. Thursday on Kelsey Creek Drive south of Wight Way.
Powell's report said that Burnett was driving northbound on Kelsey Creek Drive at an unknown speed while the school bus, driven by 39-year-old Shawn Dale Rogers was driving southbound, also at an unknown rate of speed.
Burnett allegedly allowed her vehicle to drive into the school bus' path. Rogers slowed and took evasive actions but was unable to avoid hitting the Prizm head-on, according to Powell.
The crash caused major damage to the Prizm and moderate damage to the bus, Powell said.
Powell said four of the 25 grade school age children on the bus complained of pain but were not transported to the hospital.
Rogers was uninjured, while Burnett reportedly suffered minor injuries, with abrasions to her left elbow and left hand, Powell reported.
Burnett was allegedly under the influence of prescription medication and subsequently arrested, Powell said.
During interviews on Thursday with Lake County News, Kelseyville Unified School District officials had credited Rogers for his response to the situation, as well as other school transportation staff who helped respond.
The bus in question is to remain out of service until fully repaired, but all bus routes were covered on Friday, according to Kyle Reams, the district's director of maintenance and transportation.
Burnett's bail was set at $150,000 on the charge of DUI causing great bodily injury, but the alleged probation violation resulted in a no-bail hold, according to jail records.
As a result, jail records showed that Burnett remained in custody on Friday.
Her booking document indicated that she is to appear in Lake County Superior Court for arraignment on Monday, May 23.
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