Man pleads not guilty to DWI in crash into school bus

An East Islip attorney who allegedly fled the scene in his sport utility vehicle after crashing into the back of a school bus in Brentwood pleaded not guilty yesterday morning to drunken driving and other offenses.

Police said the two crashes that Kyle Norton caused on Friday sent six children and a pregnant woman to the hospital.

Suffolk County police said Norton, 37, of 47 Wildwood Ct., hit the rear of a school bus on Broadway at Dolce Street about 3:34 p.m. Friday, then fled the scene and crashed into another vehicle.

Wearing a gray suit and green shirt, Norton did not speak Saturday in First District Court in Central Islip. He pleaded not guilty through his attorney to charges of driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. His bail was set at $2,500 cash by Judge G. Ann Spelman.

Attorney Jonathan Manley, who appeared on Norton's behalf Saturday, said Norton has three children and is a lifelong resident of East Islip. Norton earned his law degree at St. John's University and has been licensed to practice in New York State since 2003.

Police said Norton, driving a 2006 Chevy TrailBlazer, hit the bus Friday, then fled and crashed into a 2004 Mercury driven by the pregnant woman who had her two children in the car. That crash occurred at 3:36 p.m. at Alkier Street and Gibson Avenue. Norton refused to take a sobriety test, police said.>Four of the six children on the school bus and the family were taken to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, police said. All were treated for minor injuries and released.

Norton, who was not injured, is due back in court Dec. 18.