Amherst Teens Charged After Hit And Run With School Bus

Two Amherst men are facing a drug and other charges after police say they hit a school bus on Wednesday, fled the scene, switched seats and then returned to the scene where they were stopped by police directing traffic around the accident.

Jonathan Palmer, 21, of 68 Profile Circle, Amherst, was charged with operating under the influence of drugs and four counts of simple assault. Christian Benjamin, 20, of 7 Timber Chase, Amherst, was also charged with operating under the influence of drugs and conduct after an accident.

Merrimack Police, fire and rescue were called to the scene of an accident at the intersection of Cross Street and Amherst Road shortly after 3 p.m. on Oct. 17. Upon arrival, police say they learned a van had struck the back end of a bus transporting children home after school and then left the scene, heading westbound on Amherst Road, without exchanging any information or calling police. No one on the bus was injured, police say. 

A witness at the scene provided the officers a license plate number for the van, but police didn't have to search long to find the vehicle.

While directing traffic at the scene, officers saw the same van driving through the scene and pulled it over, police say. The driver, identified as Palmer, and the passenger, Benjamin, were uninjured, but showing signs of impairment, police say.

In talking with the pair, police learned Benjamin had been behind the wheel at the time of the accident and after fleeing the scene, they switched seats, police say.

Palmer was arrested for operating under the influence of drugs. Benjamin was arrested for conduct after an accident and driving under the influence of drugs, all class B misdemeanors. 

They were transported to the Merrimack Police Department for booking, where Palmer then allegedly assaulted two officers, punching each of them twice. He was consequently charged with four counts of simple assault, all class A misdemeanors. Palmer was placed on $25,000 cash bail and is scheduled to appear in the Goffstown District Court on today to answer to the
charges.

Benjamin was placed on $ 1,000 cash bail and $5,000 personal recognizance bail and is scheduled to appear in the 9th Circuit Court – District Division in Merrimack.