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Tallahassee woman gets five years for hitting, killing 10-year-old boarding school bus

Posted at 11:15 AM, Oct 31, 2018
and last updated 2019-09-16 09:44:11-04

A Tallahassee woman who hit two brothers while they were walking to the school bus in Colquitt County will spend five years in prison for vehicular homicide.

Monica Cutts was charged in the death of 10-year-old Noah Palmer and for injuring his 7-year-old brother, Dylan Wolfe, in October of last year.

She was indicted on nine charges including two counts of first degree vehicular homicide, one count of serious injury by vehicle, one count of meeting or overtaking a school bus, one count of driving while license suspended and multiple counts for reckless driving and distracted driving.

District Attorney Brad Shealy told WALB that Cutts pleaded to vehicular homicide and serious injury by a vehicle on Friday.

She was sentenced to five years in prison, 10 years of probation and $3,000 fine for medical and funeral costs for the vehicular homicide charge. Cutts was also sentenced to 15 years of probation to be served concurrently with the first sentence for the serious injury by vehicle charge, Shealy said.


COLQUITT, Ga. (WALB) - It's now been five days since two brothers were hit by a car while walking to the school bus in Colquitt County. 

The family laid 10-year-old Noah Palmer to rest on Tuesday as his 7-year-old brother continues to recover from his injuries. 

10-year-old Noah Palmer died Thursday evening just a few hours after being hit by a car that morning while crossing the street to board the school bus.

His younger brother, 7-year-old Dylan Wolfe is expected to make a full recovery.

Their mother, Amanda Wolfe said the oldest brother, 12-year-old Landen Bass hates that he was home sick that day. 

"He told me yesterday that he wishes he was there so he could've saved Noah," said Amanda. 

Amanda believes Noah sacrificed his life to save Dylan.

Before the two boys were hit by the car, Noah shoved Dylan out of the way.

She said the love Noah brought to this world has been given back to her family this week.

"All that love that has been shown to me and my family, that is my son. That's how he loved," said Amanda.  

This love also caught the attention of University of Georgia's Quarterback Jake Fromm. During Noah's funeral, a letter Fromm wrote to his family will be read.

Noah's STEM classmates also brought him a special gift. 

“That little kids that were working on the robot with him, finished it for him,” said Amanda.

Amanda said it now lays on Noah’s casket. She said even though he’s gone, she can still hear him.

“He’s here, always. God needed him a little more than I did,” Amanda said.

The devastating news of Noah and Dylan’s accident also deeply impacted law enforcement officers.

Having kids of his own, Colquitt County Deputy Terry Gibson said his heart sank a little when he received the call.

Gibson said he got to the scene as quickly and safely as possible because he knew this incident could be serious, and it was.

Investigators still don’t know how fast Monica Cutts, 25, of Tallahassee was driving and why she drove past the school bus, ultimately hitting the boys, despite its stop arm being extended, flashing lights on and it being slightly angled into the other lane.

Georgia State Patrol troopers said they’re still processing crime scene evidence.

"The windshield is big in your vehicle. Look out it. It's not only someone else's life you're going to be taking care of, you're going to be taking care of your own. Just pay attention, please," said Gibson.

Cutts' bond has been denied. She is being held at the Colquitt County Jail. It's unknown when her next court appearance will be.

However, during this difficult time you can visit Love Like Noah nonprofit site to help the family in their time of need.

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