A bus driver was slammed with nearly 30 counts of child abuse after hitting the breaks to “teach the kids a lesson”.
In a horrific video, multiple children are seen slamming into the windows and seats on the school bus on March 1.
Brian Fitzgerald, a substitute bus driver, was fired by the Douglas County School District for the dangerous scare tactic.
And in a horrific surveillance video, the driver is filmed telling children “you guys need to be in your seats”.
He then warns them “you guys want to see how dangerous that is,” then allegedly stomped on the brakes — sending the students flying into the seats in front of them.
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“Did you get that? That’s why you need to be in your seat,” Fitzgerald then said to the kids.
“Turn around and sit down properly. If you guys can’t do that, you will get written up. Do you get that?”
The video then shows a child call her parents, and say: “The bus driver hit the brakes, and somebody got hurt so badly and is like bleeding on the cheek.
“We tell the bus driver, but he no care.”
Local outlet KRDO reported that Fitzgerald later told officials in Colorado Springs that he wanted to “teach the kids a lesson”.
In the CCTV clip, the driver was filmed apologising to a parent for the brake check.
“I was coming to a stop and I hit the brakes hard because they weren’t, they were not listening,” he said. “So, I’m sorry if she got hurt.”
Fitzgerald later sent an apology note to the district after the incident, but he was terminated, CBS News said.
Court records show a misdemeanour charge was filed on April 12 against Fitzgerald, which includes 29 charges of child abuse with no injury and one count of child abuse with bodily injuries, ABC News reported.
Fitzgerald is scheduled to appear in court on May 12.
The Douglas County School District said to KRDO: “Riding a bus to and from school should be a happy, enjoyable experience for students.
“The behaviour and actions of this bus driver are completely unacceptable.
“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.”
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