Driver accused of throwing kids off school bus cuts deal

PITTSBURGH - A Pennsylvania school bus driver who is charged with endangering the welfare of children after allegedly screaming at two middle school students and kicking them off the bus could have his charges dropped, reports CBS Pittsburgh.

Larry Bonzo, 55, a driver for R.J. Rhodes Transit, is accused of throwing two 14-year-old students from Ambridge Middle School in Economy, Pa., off of his bus in February in frigid temperatures.

"Apparently, they were standing up; they weren't doing what they were supposed to do, so he stopped the bus initially, and said get in your seats. So, finally they get in their seats," said defense attorney Myron Sainovich. "Once they got in the seats, they started pounding on the seats and pounding on the side of the bus, claiming that that was some type of music."

According to the police report, that was when Bonzo told the students to, "Stop the [expletive] noise. Sit your [expletive] down, or get off my damn bus!"

The students claim Bonzo kicked them off the bus several miles away from their homes. One of them forgot his coat and was walking outside in 21-degree weather, reports the station.

Sainovich argues the students made "an adult decision and got off the bus."

Since the students got off several miles from their stop, Bonzo was charged with child endangerment and temporarily relieved from duty, reports the station.

Bonzo's attorney says his client has agreed to take an anger management class and for the next six months, he'll be under the supervision of an adult probation officer.

If there are no further incidents and no arrests, the charges will be dropped, according to the station.