A Denton ISD school bus driver has been placed on leave following multiple reports of erratic driving behavior, as confirmed by both Denton ISD and local police. The incident, which took place on Tuesday on Crestmeadow Street near West Windsor Drive, involved a bus full of children from Evers Park Elementary School. Witnesses described a terrifying scene with children's cries for help heard from the bus. "You can hear the kids on the bus screaming, 'Help us. Help us. Somebody help us. Get us off the bus,'" Ceara Thornton, whose nephews were on board, told CBS News.
After the alarms were called by her sister, Thornton's sister, Kiara King, captured part of the ordeal on her cell phone, a documentation of the bus driver and her engaged in an altercation, which at some point led to the bus door allegedly slamming on her arms. According to Thornton, the driver had warned the children to sit down or else “he’s going to show them,” a phrase fraught with the horror of an unknown threat that while driving, put the children in a direct line of harm's way. Denton Police have confirmed that the bus driver is contesting the claims of misconduct, as per CBS News.
Detonating the quiet of suburban life, the incident brought first responders to the scene, where they helped to escort the frightened children from Bus 116. Although no severe injuries were reported among the children, the emotional toll of such an event cannot be discounted. Thornton, reflecting on the ordeal, expressed a sentiment shared by many parents in the community: "It's very scary because we put our kids in school, and we expect them to be out of harm's way," she told CBS News.
Investigations regarding the seriousness of the incident are now running on two fronts; the Denton Police Department and Denton ISD are both conducting separate probes into the allegations. The officer, carrying out one of these investigations, to who the mother provided the recording, also confirmed that the children reported hitting their heads during the ordeal. Additionally, footage from the bus camera is currently under review to shed further light on the events that transpired. The disturbing event and the plea by Thornton for accountability were echoed in a report by FOX 4 News, underscoring the community's call for a transparent and thorough investigation.
The case continues to unfold as the Denton Police have not charged the driver with any criminal offense at this stage. However, pending the outcome of the investigations, legal steps may or may not be taken to address the accusations made against the driver of Bus 116. Meanwhile, the parent's attorney holds a copy of the same video that has been shared with law enforcement, as noted by FOX 4 News.
