OTTUMWA, IA — A student is recovering after being struck by a vehicle near an Ottumwa bus stop on Thursday afternoon, and police say the driver left the scene before investigators tracked him down later that day. The Ottumwa Police Department said officers were called to the 1500 block of Albia Road just after 4 p.m. after a report that a child had been hit.
Witnesses at the scene gave officers a description of the vehicle involved, which helped investigators identify the suspect and the car. Police later located both at the suspect’s home in rural Ottumwa.
Police say witness accounts led investigators to suspect’s home in rural Ottumwa
Authorities identified the driver as 26-year-old Tristan Verrips. The Ottumwa Police Department said the information from witnesses was detailed enough to help officers find the vehicle after the crash, rather than relying only on the initial call about the injury.
Police said Verrips was found at his home in rural Ottumwa. The case moved quickly from the street scene near the bus stop to a follow-up investigation that ended with the suspect and vehicle being located the same day. No additional details about the collision have been released.
Charges include driving under suspension and leaving the scene after serious injury
Verrips has been charged with driving under suspension and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury. Those charges reflect both the alleged status of the driver and police claims that he did not remain after the crash.
The police release does not say what led up to the impact or how fast the vehicle was moving. It also does not identify the student by name, but officials with the Ottumwa Community School District said the child was dropped off at the bus stop before the incident happened.
Ottumwa schools say the student is expected to recover fully after the crash
The Ottumwa Community School District said the student is expected to fully recover. District officials said the crash happened after the student had already been dropped off at the bus stop, placing the incident in the routine morning or afternoon pickup area that families use for school transportation.
In a statement, the district used the crash as a reminder for drivers to stay alert near bus stops and school grounds. The case underscores the danger of vehicles passing through school-adjacent areas where children may be walking, waiting, or crossing the road.
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