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Houston Co. bus driver charged with vehicular homicide in fatal crash

UPDATE: 11:08 p.m.:

Cari Cooley says her son Christopher was on the bus when it crashed and she can't stop thinking about it.

"It was just a very terrifying experience," she said. "I still think about it every day, you know, what happened to that little girl."

Teddy Reese, a lawyer for Arlana Haynes's father, said that the arrest was a step in the process towards "justice for Arlana."

Cooley says she's glad Harris is in custody.

"She was in charge of thirty lives and she failed to get them home safely that day," said Cooley. "So yeah, I believe she should be arrested."

After the accident, she says Christopher won't be riding the school bus anymore.

The Houston County Board of Education declined to comment on the arrest, citing their own investigation and pending litigation.

Assistant Chief Wagner says the case is likely to go before a grand jury.

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Investigators have charged a Houston County school bus driver with vehicular homicide after a fatal accident in late January.

According to a release from the Warner Robins Police Department, 29-year-old Shalita Harris is charged with one count of vehicular homicide and reckless driving related to the death of Arlana Haynes on January 29.

Assistant Chief John Wagner said Harris was being held on no bond.

The news release says she was driving a 2000 Bluebird bus north on Forest Park Drive when she hit the curve too fast and left the road.

RELATED: Houston Co. parents concerned after recent bus crashes

When the bus left the road, it rolled over and Haynes was ejected.

Haynes was critically injured at the time of the accident, and died hours later surrounded by family and the first responders that tried to keep her alive.

RELATED: 'She was sunshine in the rain' | Arlana Haynes' family speaks at news conference

RELATED: 'She had so much love and joy to give' | Arlana's parents share memories of her

Teddy Reese, attorney for Arlana's father Christopher Haynes, said the family had no comment in regards to the arrest.

Reese said they are patiently awaiting the end of the investigation and want justice for Arlana, he continued this was just a step in that process.

Houston County School spokeswoman Beth McLaughlin said, "Our district has an ongoing investigation and due to pending litigation and our ongoing investigation that is all we can comment at this time."

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