Commissioner Candidate Charged In School Bus Hit-And-Run
FOUR OAKS — A Johnston County commissioner candidate was arrested Friday afternoon following a hit-and-run crash involving a school bus.
Chad Stewart, 55, of Four Oaks, a Republican candidate for the District 3 seat on the Johnston County Board of Commissioners, is charged with misdemeanor failure to stop for a stopped school bus, misdemeanor hit-and-run resulting in property damage, and failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision.
Four Oaks Police said the crash occurred at approximately 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26 on East Sanders Street near Meadow Hills Drive in the town limits. Johnston County school bus No. 302 was reportedly stopped when it was rear-ended by an older model Chevrolet Corvette. Authorities said the driver of the Corvette then backed up, drove past the bus and left the scene.
After reviewing video footage from the bus and conducting an investigation, officers obtained an arrest warrant Friday afternoon. Stewart appeared before a magistrate and was released on a $20,000 unsecured bond. He is scheduled to appear April 10, 2026, in Johnston County District Court.
There were seven Johnston County Early College and Johnston County Career and Technical Leadership Academy students on board the bus at the time of the accident. No injuries were reported.
Police estimated the school bus sustained approximately $1,000 in damage to the rear bumper. The Corvette sustained an estimated $10,000 in damage, police said.
Stewart is on the ballot in the March 3 Republican primary for the District 3 seat.
He previously served eight years on the Johnston County Board of Commissioners, including terms as vice chairman and chairman. He resigned in 2021 after accepting a position with the Johnston County ABC Board and later left that role in 2024.
Johnston County Report reached Mr. Stewart late Friday seeking comment. He declined to comment on the advice of his attorney.
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This story has been updated
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Still voting STEWART
I’m not a betting woman but if I were I’d go all in on his was *****! Never been around him when he wasn’t wreaking of alcohol. For those of you calling him a “good man”, a good man rear ends a stopped school bus and reverses, turns around, and DRIVES OFF?!?! No, he’s not a good man, he’s a ***** that thinks he’s better than most people and above the law apparently!! 🙄🥴
R.D. Braswell “Dicky” make sure to carve your name and county into that cell wall of yours, we have another JOCO commissioner that held the same county seat coming to keep your vacated cell bed warm about the time you are released. Dicky if you see Chad Stewart tell him *** *** he will know what it means!!!
Why? Hits a school bus and leaves? Disgusting ******.
I’m not sure if this is sarcasm or not.. I certainly hope it is.
Yes we’ve all done. Stupid stuff. You have to look at where his heart is. Chad has a big heart and has served this country and this county well. I know there’s a lot of people to jump on the haters bandwagon, but unless you know this guy, you should probably be quiet. If you’ve never done anything stupid or made a mistake in your life thing, please feel free to go ahead and comment.
@Truther yes we have all done stupid stuff, like your post. I suppose if he were not a white political insider you would be clamoring for whoever it was to be jailed, deported or executed. Small town politics is the same everywhere. He’ll probably get out of this and get re-elected. And you wonder why the County’s going to **** in a handbasket.
This is why i wait til election day to vote. Alot can happen between day 1 early voting and election day. Never was a chad fan for other reasons, but now the character is revealed.
He cannot be trusted in office. What if there was an injury to one of the children and he just drove off not knowing. I’m not saying he is a bad guy, but he sure does not give a hoot for other people so trust him in office, I think not.
Still voting for Chad Stewart.