NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — A Pasco County woman is fighting for her daughter to be able to ride the school bus after a hit-and-run.
On Sept. 4, 11-year-old Cherrie Reinhart was riding her bike to school when she was hit at the intersection of Vanburen Street and Indiana Avenue in New Port Richey. The 77-year-old driver fled the scene after the crash but has since been tracked down by police and charged.
Meanwhile, Cherrie's mother Jennifer Reznick said her daughter should never have been in that position. She said she has been pushing the school district for years to allow her daughter to ride the school bus.
Reznick said, "It's just frustrating to know this all could have been prevented had they given her a bus!"
Reznick said the school district determined her home is 1.9 miles from her daughter's school, just short of the 2-mile minimum for bus riders.
"The school bus stops 10 feet from my front door," Reznick said. "There's an existing bus stop. My neighbors' kids all get on that bus because they hit the 2-mile mark. It doesn't cost anything except compassion to let this poor child ride the bus."
But Pasco County Schools said they aren't able to make an exception.
They point to Florida state statute which outlines that transportation for students who live within two miles of their school is the family's responsibility.
In a statement, the school district said in part: "Over two years ago, the district was forced to eliminate transportation for approximately 5,500 middle and high students as a result of the bus driver shortage."
Now, as 11-year-old Cherrie remains at home this week, her single mother who said she works three jobs agonizes over the next steps.
"I mean, she can't stay out of school forever, so do we risk her mental health, her physical health, her getting hit by a car again?"
Reznick said she's now working with a lawyer and the state to get a resolution.
The driver who hit Cherrie has been charged with one felony count of leaving the scene of a crash involving injury. He is out on a $2,500 bond.