Photo courtesy of Woonsocket Police
By Sam Wroblewski, 630WPRO.com News
A Woonsocket woman has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident after she struck a school bus, injuring five students.
Police report Melissa Escomilha struck the bus on Willow Street in Woonsocket around 9:00am; the bus carrying 31 students between the ages of seven and eleven.
Following the accident, Escomilha exited her car and attempted to flee with her child on foot. An officer pursued and arrested her. Escomilha told officers that “she couldn’t go back to jail.” Officers later discovered she had been driving with an expired license.
Escomilha suffered scrapes to the arms, chin and chest, and complained of neck pains. She was transported to Landmark Medical Center but soon grew agitated and threw her neck brace at her arresting officers while cursing loudly.
Officers removed her from the hospital where she then resisted officer’s efforts to place her in a squad car and began to kick them.
In addition to leaving the scene of an accident, and driving with a suspended license, Escomilha was also charged with simple assault and battery and obstructing a police officer.
The five children only suffered minor injuries and were treated at Landmark Medical Center.
