Print
Nov 20, 2008 8:27 pm US/Eastern
Ambridge Bus Driver Accused Of Reckless Driving
AMBRIDGE (KDKA) ―
Police are investigating an incident involving an Ambridge Area School District bus driver.
They say the driver was driving recklessly, putting the kids on board at risk.
School buses are one of the ways some parents get their kids to school. But for Ellen Jones that could be about to change.
"I think it's horrible that these children were put at risk. Not just my son but this incident put all the kids on the bus in danger," said Jones.
Jones' 10-year-old son had just finished staying back at Highland Elementary for an after-school program. He was riding bus No. 17 on his way home on Tuesday when things got a bit rowdy on the bus.
"The bus tape shows that the kids were jumping around but my child was not moving around on the bus. The bus driver told him to, 'Sit down before I put you down,'" said Jones.
Jones says after that command things got out of hand.
"As my son was doing some type of movement he slammed on the brakes, which threw my son to the ground and jolted the other children on the bus. The bus driver was laughing and he did it to try and injure him to make him fall off the bus," said Jones.
Jones' son hit his face on the floor and there's more.
"The bus driver then pulls over the bus, gets out of his seat and comes over to my son with his fists drawn and he flinched and then threatened my boy," said Jones.
Jones says at that point another kid on the bus stepped in and moved her son to another seat safely.
It was enough to concern this mother once she found out.
"You never expect something like this to happen on their way home to and from school. He was hurt and upset that a grown adult would assault him," said Jones.
And leave this mother with one option.
"Right now we are taking my son to and from school because he's afraid to ride at all," said Jones.
Officials at Highland Elementary and Rhoads Transportation declined our interview requests.
Police are not releasing the videotape at this point but do say criminal charges are pending against the bus driver.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Featured Slideshows On KDKA.com
