A former bus driver is facing 30 misdemeanor child abuse charges for allegedly brake checking a bus full of kids in an incident caught on camera.
Brian Fitzgerald, 61, was driving students home from Castle Rock Elementary School in Colorado last month when he apparently grew frustrated and attempted to "educate" and "control the students" by slamming on the brakes, according to KRDO, which published video of the incident.
"You guys need to be in your seats," Fitzgerald says over the bus' loudspeaker. "You guys want to see how dangerous that is?"
Moments later, Fitzgerald reportedly hit the brakes of the bus, causing some children to bump their heads into the seats in front of them and even fall out of their seats.
Some children screamed: "Ow!" and "Oh my god!"
"Did you get that? That's why you need to be in your seat," Fitzgerald announced sternly. "Turn around and sit down properly. If you guys can't do that, you will get written up. Do you get that?"
"Why would he do that," one child asked.
Another asks a classmate, "Are you ok?"
A speedometer on the video recording shows the speed dropped from 9 mph to zero, KDVR reported.
In an apology letter to the district, obtained by KRDO, Fitzgerald attempted to explain his actions saying he asked the children to sit down several times.
"As the video will show, they were standing and climbing all over the seats," he wrote. "I made the PA announcement 4 times for them to sit down. While rolling to a stop sign, I hit the brakes."
"I am sincerely sorry for my choice of actions today in my efforts of training students. I am still 100% responsible for my actions in trying to both educate and control students on the bus," he continued. "Being a new driver, I did not make the best decision and if I were able to redo what I did I would rethink my decisions."
Multiple parents reported the incident to the district, which issued a statement calling Fitzgerald's behavior "completely unacceptable."
"The video is incredibly difficult to watch. Riding a bus to and from school should be a happy, enjoyable experience for students," the statement said. "We are so grateful to the parents and the principal who reported this incident, allowing us to take swift action and ensure this driver was never again allowed behind the wheel of a DCSD bus. Thank you for your partnership in watching out for our children."
The incident was reported to police and eventually presented to prosecutors for criminal charges. Fitzgerald, who was fired from the district, is now facing 30 counts of child abuse, one of which indicates bodily injury and carries a maximum sentence of a year in jail.
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