Student Describes Being Dragged by School Bus
Parents furious after bus driver still on the job
By VINCE LATTANZIO
Updated 6:00 AM EST, Fri, Oct 30, 2009
Seven-year old Chisano Mutts is lucky to be alive after he was dragged nearly a block by his school bus.
"I was very scared and nervous because I thought I was going to die," Chisano shyly said.
The Millville, N.J. elementary school student was getting off the bus about two weeks ago when his backpack became wedged in the doors.
"I was half way off the bus, my body was out, my bookbag was still inside. Then they closed the door," he said.
Chisano's father Felisberto Maceia and witnesses chased after the bus trying to signal the driver to stop.
"As a father it didn't make me feel good…that I couldn't do anything to help him," he said.
Almost a block later, the driver realized the boy was hanging from the doors and stopped.
"She just stayed inside the bus. She didn't say anything. I rolled onto the sidewalk, my brother was still on the bus and she just moved on," Chisano said.
The unidentified driver told police she didn't realize Chisano was trapped. She also said she was "stressed out" because the kids on the bus were misbehaving, according to a police report.
She was cited for careless driving. Parents say the driver was reassigned to another route and is back on the job.
Sheppard Bus Service, who is contracted by the school district, declined to comment. District officials are investigating, but say they would be unable to discipline the woman because she is not their employee.
First Published: Oct 29, 2009 11:42 PM EST
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