WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A former school bus driver involved in an incident in which a 6-year-old was dragged by her school bus in December has been charged with careless and reckless driving, the Associated Press reports.

Bus driver Rueben Hash was charged last month with a class 2 misdemeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of 45 days in jail, according to the Associated Press. Hash resigned two days after the incident, which occurred on Dec. 7. The student, Chelsea Klepzig, was deboarding the bus when the door closed on her arm and the bus driver began driving away. She held onto the bus with her arm stuck in the door for nearly 1 mile, with her arms and legs dragging. She suffered bruises and scrapes from the incident.

Hash was a substitute bus driver who had worked for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools since 2000.

The issue of student dragging incidents has been brought to light in the past year or so with several other instances being reported across the U.S. School transportation professionals, such as school bus driver Victoria DeCarlo, are working on enhancing prevention measures.