Denton ISD bus driver’s erratic driving under investigation
DENTON, Texas - A Denton ISD bus driver is no longer with the district after an incident this week involving a bus full of kids.
Parents and neighbors told FOX 4 he was driving erratically and purposely slamming on the brakes while kids were on the bus.
Denton police and Denton ISD both opened their own investigations.
The driver was initially placed on administrative leave during the investigations.
As of Friday morning, Denton ISD said he is no longer with the district.
What happened on Bus 116?
The mother of three children who were on the bus recorded her interaction with the Bus 116 driver and shared it with FOX 4.
In the video, children can be heard screaming as the mother argues with the bus driver in the doorway.
FOX 4 is blurring the driver's face since he's not facing any criminal charges at this time.
"You could hear the neighbors saying, ‘Someone call 911!’" said Ceara Thornton, whose sister took the video.
Thornton said it all started when her nephews called her sister, scared on the bus ride home from school.
"They called my sister on the phone, and they were screaming," she said. "They were loud through the phone, screaming, ‘Mommy, Come get me! Come get us! The bus driver, he is hurting ourselves!’" She goes out and she is running to the bus."
Thornton said her nephews were able to get off the bus, and her sister called 911.
"When they came down here, they were looking nervous and stuff like that. I was like what happened," she said. "They said the driver told them to sit down. And if they didn’t sit down, then he would basically show them. I guess he was slamming on the brakes and driving recklessly."
The bus pulled over, and first responders showed up to escort the children off the bus.
No kids were seriously hurt, and they were all eventually reunited with their parents safely.
No longer employed by Denton ISD
Denton ISD sent a letter to parents saying a thorough investigation into what happened on Bus 116, which serves Evers Park Elementary, would be conducted.
That investigation is now complete.
"Following a thorough investigation by Denton ISD into Tuesday’s incident, the driver of Bus 116 is no longer employed by Denton ISD," the school district said in a statement. "This does, however, remain an active investigation by the Denton Police Department. The safety of our students is always of the utmost importance. Our Transportation Department is committed to ensuring that each of our students starts and ends their day with safe and efficient transportation, and we do not take that responsibility lightly."
Denton PD investigation ongoing
On Thursday, Denton police confirmed officers responded to reports of a school bus driver driving erratically on Tuesday afternoon.
The mother behind the video told officers the driver repeatedly closed the bus door on her arms, causing pain.
Police said children also told officers that they hit their heads.
"We want to see the driver be held accountable," Thornton said.
Featured
Corsicana ISD assistant principal released from hospital after 'classroom disruption'
During an update at a meeting on Monday night, Corsicana ISD said that assistant principal Candra Rogers is out of the hospital.
Denton police said the driver denied intentionally driving recklessly.
Officers are now reviewing bus camera footage as part of the follow-up investigation.
The mother who took the video said her attorney also has a copy of the footage.