Caught on Tape: School Bus Driver Yanks Six-Year-Old

By: Natalie Jimenez
Topics: Video

A school bus driver in Snohomish, Wash., is no longer on the job after yanking a six-year-old girl to the floor by her backpack.

Surveillance video caught the incident on tape.

The girl, seated in the front seat across the aisle from the bus driver, stands up to talk to students seated behind her.

That's when the driver turns around to grab the child, forcefully bringing her to the ground.

"That's what's going to happen if I hit the brakes," he yells.

The school district would not answer any questions, but did release a statement saying the bus driver was immediately placed on leave and subsequently resigned.

The Snohomish County Prosecutors Office is currently reviewing the case to determine if it will file assault charges against the driver.

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by glovokendo February 12, 2012 2:26 AM EST: i know the guy. His name is Dan Taylor. I'm friends with his grandson and he used to be my bus driver when i was in elementary school. the only time i ever saw him get really mad at a kid is when that kid was endangering themselves. i remember one time a kid was sticking half of his body out the window to try and grab a branch off of trees that were passing by. he only cares about their safety i swear.; Reply to this comment


by lauren1012 March 4, 2011 12:26 PM EST: This is why my child will never ride a bus!! i can't believe that someone would say that this is OK! The girl was talking to her friends and regardless how many times she was told to sit down she didnt deserve to be yanked down onto the floor! If he had a problem with her then he should have told her parents and let them handle the situation or no longer allow her to ride the bus! Children can get out of hand at times and maybe push your buttons but it does not makes them brats!; Reply to this comment


by tmonta67 March 4, 2011 10:50 AM EST: There's a reason we call it "tough love". An unrefined approach, but he obviously cared about this kid's safety. I can understand how this could be seen as shocking, but you've got to look at the intent.

If this guy is prosecuted, there's the crime. I'm a mom of three and I applaud his intervention.; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 March 3, 2011 10:49 PM EST: Well, she sat down that time didn't she?; Reply to this comment

by marcthib March 3, 2011 10:37 AM EST

There is never a good reason to put your hands on a child....The only dangerous situation was the driver taking his eyes off the road. If he raised his own children with an "iron fist" that is his problem! He has no right placing his hands on another person's child. For all the people who watch this film and justify his actions-SHAME ON YOU....your argument is weak and cowardly. Honestly, throwing a six year old little girl on the ground as a means of ensuring safety is absurd. In addition, placing blame on parents and society for this man's inability to work with children is down right laughable. Instead late night rants - just smoke another cigarette, drain the last shot from the bottle and go straight to bed....because your thought process stinks!

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by winstrv March 3, 2011 1:34 PM EST: Yes, the bus driver should have never put his hands on this child but instead of criticizing how about offering some solutions. What should the driver have done? Stopped the bus and call the cops because he had told the little brat to sit down more than once? Throw the child off the bus? Stop the bus and call the school to have someone come get the child? No one seems to want to blame the little brat. The little brat put all those kids in danger because the driver was distracted from doing his job. If he had wrecked the bus, would you still blame the driver? If the driver had hit the brakes and the little brat had been injured, would that be the driver's fault? No one is talking about punishing the little brat? Why not?


by national1942 March 3, 2011 1:47 AM EST: I don't see a thing wrong with what he did. I'm all on the driver's seat. The little girl had been told, obviously more than once. She was in disobedience. Truth be told maybe now she'll stay in her seat like she's been told and maybe he did just save her life for the next time when she's standing in the aisle and he does have to slam on the brakes. He should be given back his job with a bonus. Kids HAVE to learn discipline and if she won't learn it by being told several times, then I'll bet she'll remember next time now. Good for this bus driver.; Reply to this comment

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