Charges possible in Redwood County bus accident that injured boy

Updated: April 18, 2008 - 12:42 AM

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LUCAN, MINN. - The Redwood County Sheriff's Office has forwarded its investigation of a bus accident that injured a little boy to the Redwood County attorney's office for consideration of possible charges against the driver.

Zachary Thooft, 6, the son of Matt and Bernadette Thooft of rural Lucan in southwestern Minnesota, was hit after he got off the school bus Monday afternoon. He was to be released from North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale today.

The bus unloaded the boy at the driveway to his parents' farm, then apparently struck him as it pulled away, authorities said. His mother found him lying in the driveway about 30 minutes later.

The sheriff's investigation found that neither the driver nor the students noticed the accident. Sheriff Rick Morris said there wasn't enough evidence to write any citations against Luverne Bernardy, the 74-year-old bus driver.

He "had no idea [Zachary] was hit," Morris told the Marshall Independent. "He is absolutely devastated."

Morris said despite that, "I have to do my job" and forward the report for consideration of charges.

ASSOCIATED PRESS