A school bus driver accused of assaulting a student in Ashby on Tuesday will face a criminal charge, authorities announced Wednesday.
Ashby Police Chief Derek J. Pepple stated that the Ashby Police Department intends to seek a summons for the driver, a 64-year-old resident of Ashby, on a charge of assault and battery.
The incident, captured on video, allegedly shows the bus driver assaulting a student while the bus was parked in Ashby, according to North Middlesex Regional School District Superintendent Brad Morga. The bus was stationary and not in operation at the time of the incident.
Pepple stated, “Through its initial investigation, Ashby police determined that the driver shoved the student to the floor of the bus, which was returning students home from school…Based on the investigation and video from the school bus, Ashby police found probable cause to seek a summons for the driver.”
Morga confirmed that although there were other students on the bus during the incident, no injuries were reported. He emphasized the district’s commitment to conducting a swift and thorough investigation in accordance with established protocols.
The bus involved is owned and operated by Dee Bus Service, a contractor for student transportation services in the North Middlesex Regional School District. The driver implicated in the alleged incident has been removed from their route and will no longer transport students from the district, according to Morga.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Dee Bus Service stated, “We have no tolerance for this alleged behavior. We are fully cooperating with local authorities and the North Middlesex Regional School district as this matter is being investigated.”
The driver, whose identity has not been disclosed, is scheduled to appear in court at a later date. The investigation remains ongoing.
