Published: September 26, 2009 10:42 am      

Driver faces drug charges after hitting school bus

Lisa Johnson, who rear-ended a Laurel County School bus near KY 30 and the Hal Rogers Parkway Tuesday morning, told police she had used methamphetamine about an hour before the wreck.

According to London Police, Johnson 40, of London, struck the bus with her 1990 Ford Tempo as the bus was stopped at the traffic light waiting to make a left turn about 8:50 a.m. Tuesday.

Officers found a undisclosed amount of a substance believed to be methamphetamine after it fell out of Johnson’s pocket at the scene. In addition officers found a methamphetamine pipe on the floor of Johnson’s car.

Laurel County Schools Superintendent David Young said the bus, which had 53 students and the driver, was a transfer bus, taking the students from Hazel Green Elementary to North Laurel High School.

Two students were taken by ambulance to Saint Joseph-London after complaining of neck injuries while a third was taken by a parent. Young said the students were treated and released.

“The bus was not damaged and was able to continue on,” Young said.

London Police Sgt. Joe Smith said officers attempted to administer several field sobriety tests, which Johnson failed. She refused to take a blood test.

Johnson was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, first-degree possession of a controlled substance — methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, second-degree wanton endangerment, no registration plates and no registration receipt.

At her arraignment Wednesday in Laurel District Court, Johnson pleaded guilty to the charges. She will return to court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing to determine whether the case should be presented to a Laurel County Grand Jury.

Staff writer Dean Manning may be reached at dmanning@sentinel-echo.com.