IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — Editor's Note: The suspect's mugshot was obtained from the Iredell County Sheriff's Office inmate search database.
A man who nearly hit two kids getting on a school bus in Iredell County Thursday has been arrested, Iredell County Sheriff's Office records show.
Iredell-Statesville Schools sent out a release on Thursday about a situation where two students barely escaped being injured while getting on the bus.
According to the district, the bus was traveling on Old Mountain Road around 6:16 a.m. when it stopped to pick up two students. A car drove around two stopped cars and the bus while the children were on the road and nearly hit them. The kids ran to avoid the car and narrowly were missed.
"We want to remind our community to slow down and pay attention," the district said in a statement. "Driving distracted is not worth someone’s life."
State troopers confirmed Friday afternoon that the vehicle involved in the incident was seized.
The driver, identified as 35-year-old Joseph Graham Padgett Jr. of Statesville, was arrested Saturday around 2:10 a.m., according to officials. He had warrants out for his arrest for passing a stopped school bus, driving while his license was revoked, careless and reckless driving, and improper passing
Padgett was being held at the Iredell County Detention Center under a $20,000 bond, according to highway patrol. As of 1 a.m. Sunday, Padget had bailed out and is now out of custody.
The district reminds drivers that a bus stopped with red flashing lights indicates that children are getting on or off the bus. Drivers are required to stop and wait until the red lights stop flashing and the bus begins moving forward.
MORE FROM WCNC
Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Stitcher || Google Podcasts
Locked On is the leading podcast network for local sports and is owned by WCNC Charlotte's parent company TEGNA.
Listen to Locked On here.
Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Stitcher || TuneIn || Google Podcasts
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.