Virginia school bus drivers assaulted by students
Two drivers were allegedly assaulted by students on their buses and taken to the hospital in separate incidents. One of the drivers was trying to break up a fight.
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. — Two school bus drivers here were allegedly assaulted by students on their buses and taken to the hospital this week in separate incidents, WAVY reports.
On Thursday morning, Diana Gulotta, a Hampton City Schools bus driver, had stopped the bus when a 14-year-old girl reportedly assaulted her, according to the news source. Police said that the start of the incident remains under investigation, but a resident in the area told WAVY he saw the school bus, police cars and a fire truck, and that students were evacuated from the bus and boarded on another bus. Police charged the student as a juvenile with assault and battery and released her.
A statement released by the school district said that the student who was alleged to be involved in the assault would be disciplined, and that it was following up on the condition of the bus driver to offer support.
On Monday, a Portsmouth school bus driver who was breaking up a fight between two students was reportedly injured, according to WAVY. Detective Misty Holley told the news source that the students were both girls under the age of 12.
The driver pulled the bus over to stop the fight, and about 30 minutes later, he reported being injured and requested an ambulance. Holley told WAVY that the driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries to the shoulder.
Police are not filing charges and it is not yet known what actions the school may take against the students, according to the news source.
More Safety

How to Build a Better School Bus Driver Training Program
Is it time to strengthen your driver training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety. This video is brought to you by IC Bus.
Read More →
Recent School Bus Accidents Leave 2 Dead, 2 Injured
Four school bus crashes in Florida, Illinois, and Georgia highlight risks in transportation lots, at bus stops, and during student loading and unloading.
Read More →
When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving
From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.
Read More →
What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.
Read More →
Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents
Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.
Read More →
Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
Read More →
Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
Read More →
Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →
How To Build a More Secure School Bus Yard During and After Hours
As thefts and overnight security threats continue, school transportation leaders are combining stronger operational practices with AI-enabled surveillance to better protect buses, facilities, and staff.
Read More →
FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know
Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.
Read More →

