No Charges Against School Bus Driver in Alleged Student Fight
Police say there is not sufficient evidence to seek criminal charges against a Georgia driver who was accused of threatening and hitting two students during a reported conflict.
MARIETTA, Ga. — Police will not file criminal charges against a school bus driver who had been accused of threatening and hitting students during an alleged fight between two students on her route, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
As previously reported, in the Oct. 20 incident, the bus driver, who has 12 years of experience driving for Marietta City Schools, was placed on administrative leave after she reportedly broke up a fight. There was no video of the alleged conflict because the bus was not equipped with a recording drive.
Marietta police officer Chuck McPhilamy told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that an investigation did not find enough evidence to seek criminal charges. A police report obtained by the newspaper stated that the two students involved in the alleged fight told police that the bus driver cursed at, pushed, and hit them on the drive home. The students also said, according to the statement, that the driver pushed one of the students' head, causing him to fall. That student received a small cut on his leg, police said. The other student said the driver hit him on one of his hands and left a scratch. Police added that other students corroborated the injured students’ stories and that one of the students left the bus with a bloodied head, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The driver, who does not regularly drive that route, told police that the only physical contact she had with the students was putting out her right arm to stop them from leaving the bus before they were supposed to, and that she didn’t see any injuries or threaten the students, according to the newspaper. The driver also told police that she pulled over to look into claims of a fight, but that she did not have to break up a fight, and that an angry parent cursed at her when she prevented the parent from boarding the bus. A school official told officers that none of the students came forward as witnesses and had very little information about the incident, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
To read the full story, go here.
More Management
The Link Between Emotional Intelligence and School Bus Safety
How can emotional intelligence help transportation pros navigate stress, manage change, and build stronger relationships? Listen to find out.
Read More →
What Emotional Intelligence Has to Do With School Bus Safety
In this video, discover how emotional intelligence can help transportation leaders and drivers navigate stress, manage change, and build stronger relationships. The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.
Read More →
Beyond Two-Way Radios: School Bus Communications Evolve With Push-to-Talk Over Cellular
PRYME Radio and PositionPTT join forces to advance hands-free radio use and reduce distracted driving. See how PoC compares with traditional radios on range, cost, safety, and connectivity.
Read More →
Have School Districts Adapted to Bus Driver Shortages or Simply Accepted Less Service?
According to a recent report from HopSkipDrive, many districts appear to have recalibrated what "normal" transportation service looks like.
Read More →
Reliable Transportation Linked to Better Student Outcomes, New EverDriven Study Finds
See why new research suggests transportation consistency improves student outcomes while influencing attendance, funding, IEP compliance, and family trust.
Read More →
Switzer-CARTY Enters the U.S. with New Acquisition
The Canadian contractor’s acquisition of Minnesota-based Agnes Corporation marks its first cross-border expansion into the United States and adds 350 vehicles.
Read More →
BusRight Adds New Rider Tracking Technology
Safety Pass is an NFC-based student ridership tracking solution that provides real-time boarding and drop-off data to improve school bus safety and family communication.
Read More →
EverDriven Launches RideAware App With Real-Time Student Ride Visibility
The updated platform’s new features improve communication among caregivers, districts, and drivers while streamlining trip updates.
Read More →
How School Transportation Departments Can Help Acclimate New Riders to the Bus
Here's how transportation departments can turn first-day jitters into confidence for students and parents alike.
Read More →
Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Nearly 90 Years of Safely Transporting Wisconsin Students
From one farmer's act of service to a fourth-generation family business, Kobussen Buses reflects on nearly 90 years of earning the trust of Wisconsin families.
Read More →