A Pennsylvania school van driver is facing serious legal repercussions, including corruption of a minor and indecent assault charges, following allegations that he inappropriately touched a teenage girl, law enforcement officials have confirmed. The incident, reported to have occurred last Thursday, involves a 73-year-old driver named Daryl Nichols, who worked for Mlaker Student Transportation and was transporting a 15-year-old student from her school, Chestnut Ridge Christian Academy, to another educational institution, the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute, as reported by CBS News.
According to the criminal complaint and as WPXI reported, Nichols is accused of touching the student's leg and thigh and attempting to solicit a hug and a kiss from her. However, the girl told police she did not want to hug the man but did so in an effort to extricate herself from the situation. The police didn't take long to take the reports because it was a high priority for the troopers assigned to the case. Additionally, the interior van camera, which was intended to capture driver distractions, reportedly documented Nichols placing his hand on the girl's leg for over a minute, and also recorded an exchange where Nichols told the girl about a dream he had about her.
The company responsible for the driver's employment, Mlaker Transportation, has relayed that it prioritizes student safety and is cooperating with authorities in the investigation. At the time of reporting, Nichols has not yet been apprehended by the authorities, and no updates have been provided regarding his current custodial status.
