THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996             TAG: 9610030352
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   38 lines

MAN ARRESTED AT HOSPITAL AFTER CAR HITS HIS SON WOMAN, 72, IS CHARGED WITH RECKLESS DRIVING AT SCHOOL BUS STOP IN SUFFOLK.

A 4-year-old who was struck by a car at a school bus stop escaped serious injury Wednesday afternoon. But his father was slapped with arrest warrants when he arrived at the hospital to check on the child.

Darek E. Eley Jr. of the 4600 block of Hardy Drive got off a S.T.O.P. bus at his grandmother's house at East Washington and South 10th streets, said Officer Dean M. Smith.

Red lights flashed on the bus as the preschooler crossed the street, but the bus driver noticed that no one was home and motioned him to return to the bus, Smith said.

As the child recrossed the street about 12:15 p.m., he was hit by a car driven by Marie V. Willie, 72, of the 2300 block of East Washington St., Smith said.

Willie was charged with reckless driving.

The child was taken by Nansemond-Suffolk Rescue Squad to Obici Hospital. While he was being checked into the emergency room, Smith was checking police records, because he thought the name was familiar.

The officer found outstanding warrants for Eley, 23, of the 100 block of North 6th St., a suspect in an August robbery.

Just before the pre-schooler was released from the hospital, his father arrived and was assured that his son was fine.

Then he was arrested.

The elder Eley is charged with armed robbery and using a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Other family members took the child home.

Smith took Eley to Western Tidewater Regional Jail, where he was being held in lieu of $1,500 bond Wednesday night.

KEYWORDS: ARREST ACCIDENT TRAFFIC INJURIES

RECKLESS DRIVING ROBBERY by CNB