Beaver Bus Driver Banned After Allegedly Threatening To Shoot Kids
BEAVER COUNTY (KDKA) – A Beaver Area School district bus driver has been banned after allegedly threatening students on his bus Wednesday.
It happened when he was driving about 20 children to College Square Elementary School.
The bus driver, who officials say had 30 years of experience, reportedly got angry when some children had their heads in the aisle. He then allegedly said, "If I'm going to shoot a gun, I'm going to shoot it down the aisle and hit somebody in the head."
The bus is owned by Ferguson Transportation and the students were on bus No. 16.
Administrators say they found out about the alleged comments when two of the students on the bus told their principal.
So did he really mean what he said or was he just having a bad day? That's what police are looking into.
"Comments like that should not be made around 5- to 6-year-old students ever," said Tony DiGennaro of Brighton Township.
DiGennaro lives across the street from Ferguson Transportation and has twin daughters in Kindergarten in the District. His daughters weren't on Bus 16, but he's still upset.
"I hope he gets fired and never drives a school bus again," he said. "That should be grounds for termination."
A letter to parents from the district read in part, "as you are likely now aware your child's bus driver made an inappropriate comment while completing his morning route. His comment was not directed at any particular student, rather it would seem that he was frustrated with the level of noise and movement of the students. Nonetheless, your child's safety is our priority and district administration took immediate action."
The school district says it does not have the power to discipline the driver, but the driver has been banned from working with any of the children in the district in any capacity.
Ferguson Transportation would not comment on the incident.
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