Girl, 17, hit by METRO bus

Charmine James is in critical condition

HOUSTON – A high school student was rushed to a hospital Monday after she was hit by a METRO bus.

METRO officials said the incident happened as Charmine James, 17, tried to cross the 12000 block of Bellaire about 2:30 p.m. She was not in a crosswalk, METRO officials said.

James was rushed to Memorial Hermann Hospital in critical condition. Police said she suffered serious injuries.

Charmine's mother saw the teen shortly before surgery to save her leg.

"She was not conscious. I could not talk to her. She could not talk to me," said Chandrea Rogers. "She has a big gash all the way down her leg to her ankle. Her bone was showing, her knee was out of place, and her ankle is broken."

Investigators say Charmine was heading home when she and a friend tried to cross the busy road. They made it to the grassy median. The friend stayed. Charmine apparently thought she could make it and decided to dash across the road. That's when she was struck by the bus.

Despite her critical injuries, her distraught mother has faith she'll pull through.

"She is a very strong-willed person," said Rogers.

Alief Independent School District officials said James is a senior at Hastings High School.

No one on the bus was hurt.