Georgia school board member resigns after running over teen saving parking space

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A member of the Bartow County School Board in Georgia resigned on Thursday, citing “personal and family reasons” after she was charged with reckless conduct for running over a 17-year-old girl who was saving a parking space at a Walmart in Cartersville.

Bartow County High School student Emily Gulledge told The Daily Tribune News that Angela Cornett hit her with a white Lexus SUV last week as she was standing in a parking space to save it for her brother’s girlfriend, who recently had a baby.

“I figured she would have my best interest in mind,” Gulledge said. “I figured she would watch out for my safety and she clearly did not. I feel like she let everybody down.”

Attorney John Mroczko, who is representing Cornett, initially insisted that the girl was at fault for placing her body in the way of the vehicle.

“Mrs. Cornett did not think that the girl was in the middle of the space and was blocking the space so she started to pull into the space (and) the girl walked into Mrs. Cornett’s car,” Mroczko explained.

But video released by the Bartow County sheriff’s office on Wednesday clearly showed that Cornett had hit Gulledge while she was standing in the space.

“You can’t tell close up how she was struck or exactly how hard she was struck,” Sgt. Jonathan Rogers told the paper. “But you can see that she was standing there when the vehicle lurched forward and had to move out of the way quickly.”

Rogers suggested that a black tire streak on Gulledge’s pant leg could be used as evidence in the case.

“As you can see in the video she stops and my leg is caught up in the tread of the tire,” Gulledge pointed out.

While the 17-year-old girl was not seriously injured, she believes that the crime warrants more serious charges than reckless conduct. Authorities have indicated that Cornett could face additional charges.

Watch this video from WXIA, broadcast Jan. 2, 2013.