Children hit by passing cars in similar accidents last week

Children were hit by motorists illegally passing school buses in similar but separate accidents that occurred on the same day last week.

On Friday morning in Knox County, Ind., an 18-year-old motorist hit a 7-year-old child who was crossing the street to board her school bus, WFIE reports.

The child was treated and released from the hospital. The motorist was arrested and charged with reckless driving for disregarding the school bus stop arm. Investigators say the teenager was using her cell phone when the accident occurred.

On the same morning in Elizabethtown, N.C., a 9-year-old boy was hit by a motorist in a similar accident. The boy was crossing the street to board his school bus when an oncoming car failed to stop for the bus' flashing lights and stop arm. The child was listed in fair condition at a hospital, News 14 reports.

The 35-year-old driver in that accident will be charged with failure to stop for a stopped school bus.