Driver charged with nearly striking two Branchburg kids exiting school bus
BRANCHBURG – A Pennsylvania man has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child after he allegedly passed a stopped school bus on Route 202 and narrowly missed striking two children.
Ryan Mongiori, 31, of Morrisville, Pennsylvania, has been charged with two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of another person and one count of fourth-degree driving while suspended, Police Chief Richard Buck announced.
At about 4:19 p.m. June 14, township police responded to a 911 call that a vehicle had almost struck two juveniles, ages 7 and 6, who were exiting the stopped school bus, police said.
Police said the bus had come to a complete stop on the highway with its red lights and stop sign activated.
Police were told that as the two children got off the bus, the sound of tires screeching was heard and a vehicle was seen passing the bus on the right shoulder of the highway, police said.
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The vehicle narrowly missed striking the children, according to police, and had left the scene.
In their investigation, township detectives watched video footage of the incident captured on the bus's surveillance system.
The investigation by the detectives determined that Mongiori allegedly was the driver of the vehicle.
Mongiori arrested on July 4 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania by the Bucks County Sheriff's Office. Mongiori was lodged in the Bucks County Correctional Facility pending extradition to Somerset County.
Buck thanked the Bucks County Sheriff's Office for its assistance in the apprehension of Mongiori.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Branchburg Police Department at 908-526-3830 or via the STOPit app. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com
Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Branchburg NJ kids nearly struck exiting school bus, driver charged
