Driver Faces Vehicular Homicide Charge After Hitting Girl Leaving School Bus

The has issued an arrest warrant for 51-year-old Shirley Barker McManners of Douglasville.

She will be charged with vehicular homicide in the death of 17-year-old junior Brandy Hart, who was hit by McManners' car right after she got off a school bus Tuesday night.

"A warrant is being issued right now as we speak," Douglas County Sheriff Phil Miller said moments ago. "I don't expect any problem though. We've been in discussions with her since last night. Either she'll turn herself in, or the investigator will go get her."

The accident happened at Dorris Road off Cedar Mountain Road at approximately 7:19 p.m., Miller said. "Either she didn't see the bus' stop sign, or she ran it," he said. "She struck the 17-year-old as she was crossing the street and unfortunately killed her."

The student was taken to Wellstar Douglas where she died, according to a news release from the Georgia State Patrol.

The news release stated that the school bus was stopped with its red lights activated at the time of the crash and ths bus did not make contact with the student.

Miller said his agency is working in conjunction with the Georgia State Patrol.

"She voluntarily gave blood, but the State Patrol said there is no reason to believe alcohol was involved. They're going back to the scene today to investigate, and we're going to continue interviewing witnesses.

"It's a very, very, very sad thing," he said. "It breaks your heart. We had 26 traffic fatalities in 2006 and 13 last year, and this makes 13 again this year. It just makes me think we haven't done enough when something like this happens."

Douglas County Principal Tim Scott said several students took advantage of grief counselors who were at the school today, both individually and in groups.

He said just one student was on the bus who may have witnessed the accident.

"Adults and children grieve differently," he said. "We're just getting through this process. Things have settled down, and I think we'll just use our staff for counseling tomorrow if it's needed."

Douglas County High School is having a memorial service for Brandy in the school's auditorium at 5 p.m. Thursday. Scott said the family is organizing the event, which is open to the public but is mostly for the students.