Pot may have been factor in crash that hurt teen

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Police believe the driver who ran over a sidewalk and crushed a teenager waiting for a school bus was under the influence of marijuana when he veered onto the sidewalk.

Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh obtained the driver's arrest warrant Tuesday.

Fifteen-year-old Dominique O'Connor remained in the hospital as of Monday after undergoing a scheduled surgery.

Gwinnett County police said the Berkmar High School freshman was lucky to be alive.

The crash happened Friday morning as the teen sat on the corner of Champion Parkway and Lendl Lane in Lawrenceville.

Police charged the driver of the car, Misael Pena-Larios, 20, of Lawrenceville, with driving under the influence of marijuana.

"She was pinned under the vehicle. (The) fire department had to come out and lift the vehicle off of her so they could get her treatment," said Cpl. Ed Ritter with the Gwinnett County Police Department.

Police said the impact shattered O'Connor's pelvis and lacerated her face lacerations.

Pena-Larios "admitted to smoking marijuana several hours prior to the crash," according to the arrest warrants.

The officer also noted Pena-Larios "displayed physical signs of marijuana use."

"It's just really rude to everybody, the family and stuff," friend Josiah Adderley said. "People shouldn't drive like that because stuff like that can happen."

O'Connor's neighborhood friends told Kavanaugh it was hard enough dealing with the accident that could have killed their friend.

Now, they said they are frustrated that the incident was the result of a young man's alleged reckless behavior.

Pena Larios bonded out of jail. He is expected back in court Oct. 10.

WSBTV