KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — Update (3 p.m.): The Knox County District Attorney General's office clarified that it has not yet decided whether to charge a driver involved in a hit-and-run that happened at a school bust stop on the first day of school in Farragut.
"No charging decisions have been made yet in this matter as we are awaiting medical records and additional information," the DA"s office said. "While that is underway, ethical rules prohibit the DA's office from commenting on pending investigations."
According to a report from the Knox County Sheriff's Office, a car was traveling east on Hughlan Drive at the intersection of Thorton Drive. The student was sitting on the edge of the road with her legs and feet in the road.
The driver turned left onto Thorton Drive, going north. When he made a left turn, the left rear tire struck the student in the "lower mid-section of her body," the report states.
The car left the scene before anyone else arrived.
The student was then taken to the hospital for injuries. She could not describe the car to officials because she was looking at her laptop and never heard or saw a car on the road, according to the report.
On Friday, Aug. 9, the driver called KCSO and told them he may have struck someone on Hughlan Drive Thursday morning. The driver then met with the deputies and gave his statement, KCSO said.
He told KCSO that he was driving on Concord Road. Traffic was backed up due to school traffic so he turned onto Hughlan Drive to go around it. He then said when he made that turn he felt a bump, stopped and looked in the rear-view mirror.
According to the report, the driver told officials he thought it was a blanket lying on the side of the road, so he drove away from the scene not knowing he had hit someone.
KCSO had originally said Wednesday that the district attorney would not file charges against the driver.
"There has been a miscommunication. Sheriff Spangler and District Attorney Charme Allen are meeting regarding this incident and personally reviewing the investigative file," KCSO said.
WBIR is not naming the driver at the moment because he has not been formally charged or cited in the incident.