Impaired driver hits county school bus with infant in vehicle; 17-year-old mother initially takes blame for accident

The infant involved in the school bus accident is secured in the ambulance by emergency responders before being taken to the hospital. The infant was inside the vehicle (right) that side swiped a Dyer County school bus. Initially, the infant's 17-year-old mother said she was the driver and an adult male, Logan Keith Rose, 21, was the passenger. She later admitted to being the passenger and Rose being the driver. She is facing a charge of public intoxication and Rose is charged with DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, second offense of driving on a revoked license, driving without proof of insurance and failure to maintain control.

The accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. as Dyer County school bus #80 was heading in the direction of the city limits.

The older model Nissan Altima rounded a curve, struck the bus and came to a rest in a ditch about 40 yards from the school bus. The school bus suffered minor damage. However, the Altima received damage to the front left quarter.

This older model Nissan Altima, driven by Logan Keith Rose, 21, side swiped a Dyer County school bus. The bus was taking children home after school had let out on Friday afternoon. A 17-year-old mother was a passenger in the vehicle and initially took responsibility as the driver. Her infant child was taken to Dyersburg Regional Medical Center to be examined. The child was later released and is said to have no injuries. The child was restrained in a child safety seat at the time of the accident. [Click to enlarge]

Initially, a 17-year-old female said she was driving the car. The passengers in the vehicle were Logan Keith Rose, 21, and the female's infant child, which was in an infant safety seat. The Altima was not registered either Rose or the 17-year-old, but rather to the infant's father.

Dyer County Schools Safety Director Allen Cook was at the scene and said none of the children on the bus or the bus driver were injured. Following standard operating procedure when a bus accident occurs, another school bus was called to the scene to finish taking the children home. Dyer County School Board Chairman Herman Reed was also there to make sure the children and the bus driver were alright.

As the children were waiting on the other bus, Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Grant Montgomery was conducting an investigation of the crash scene.

Rose refused to do a field sobriety test or submit to a breathalyzer test and was taken into custody and charged with public intoxication.

Logan Keith Rose, 21, sits in the back of the THP patrol car. Initially, Rose was charged with public intoxication as the 17-year-old mother of the infant said she was the driver. However, after further questioning at the Dyer County Jail the 17-year-old admitted that Rose was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident. A clear bottle of alcohol sits on the back of the car and allegedly came from the wrecked vehicle.

Dyer County Schools Safety Director Allen Cook (white shirt) examines the crash scene of Friday afternoon's accident. He arrived to make sure the children on the bus were not injured and that proper procedure was followed. [Click to enlarge]

He sat handcuffed in the backseat of the trooper's car as the 17-year-old female was given several field sobriety tests. A bottle of a clear alcohol rested on the back of the trooper's car as the investigation continued.

An ambulance arrived at the scene to transport the infant to Dyersburg Regional Medical Center. The 17-year-old female got in the ambulance and rode with the infant to the hospital as the trooper gathered information from Cook and others.

Trooper Grant searched the Altima and found a marijuana cigarette, commonly referred to as a blunt.

Some of the female's family members arrived on the scene and were on their cell phone with the 17-year-old. Trooper Montgomery told them to tell her not to leave the hospital because she was going to be placed under arrest. She was facing charges of DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving without a license, driving without proof of insurance and failure to maintain control.

Trooper Grant Montgomery (left) secures a marijuana cigarette, commonly referred to as a blunt, which was found in the vehicle driven by Rose. Inside the car with Rose, were a 17-year-old mother and her infant child. [Click to enlarge]

Rose was transported to the Dyer County Jail, where Trooper Montgomery was able to further question him and the 17-year-old. During this time, the 17-year-old admitted that Rose was driving and said they had made up the whole story because they figured she would just be released to her parents. Since Rose was driving, the charges were reversed and the 17-year-old was charged with public intoxication.

At the present time, Rose is being charged with DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, second offense of driving on a revoked license, driving without proof of insurance and failure to maintain control.

The infant was later said to have no injuries and there are no charges against the school bus driver.

The marijuana blunt found in the wrecked vehicle rests in the crease of the front passenger seat.

The accident is still under investigation by the THP. As of Friday night, Rose was in the Dyer County Jail on $2000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Dyer County General Sessions Court on Thursday, Sept. 17.