A 7-year-old girl was nearly struck by a Bismarck woman Wednesday morning when the woman drove up on the sidewalk to pass a school bus.

The 65-year-old woman apparently took the sidewalk because she couldn't squeeze between the bus and a car parked in the 5000 block of Redcoat Drive, Bismarck Police Lt. Dan Donlin said. The 7-year-old was walking around the front of the bus on her way to board when the motorist drove by.

The bus caution lights and flashers were activated at the time, Donlin said.

The motorist stopped up the road and she "exchanged words" with the child's mother and the bus driver, Donlin said. The child's mother witnessed the close encounter from her porch.

The case is under investigation by the Bismarck city attorney's office.

Drivers are required to stop when meeting or overtaking a school bus with its caution lights activated, according to Bismarck city ordinance. Motorists can proceed when the bus does or when its lights are deactivated and the bus driver motions for them to pass.

Assistant City Attorney Paul Fraase said passing a bus is a non-criminal, traffic violation. Offenders pay a $70 fine and would have six points assessed. Driver's licenses are suspended at 12 points.

(Reach reporter Mike Albrecht at 250-8261 or cops@ndonline.com.)