DUMFRIES, Va. — Parents in Dumfries are upset after police say a bus driver ran over a father who wanted to pick up his child. The dad, who was injured, is now facing charges.
The principal of Covington-Harper Elementary School sent a letter to parents on Tuesday about an incident that caused a delay in drop-off times along Chesapeake Drive near Richmond Highway.
"The substitute driver for Bus 38 requested to see IDs from parents at a bus stop before allowing the students to leave the bus," the letter from Principal Ivania Sieiro said. "Some parents became upset, and out of concern for the safety of students, the driver closed the bus door and drove back to the school."
Witnesses, including parents Chad Mock and Raywood Mickles, said the letter failed to mention how a parent, Gione Wise, was injured during the incident. Prince William County Police confirmed the bus hit a man's leg following a verbal altercation with the driver.
"She dragged him at least 100 feet before running him over," Mickles said. "I ran after the bus trying to get her to stop but she didn't stop whatsoever. She floored it."
"It's barely one-fourth of the story," Mock said. "The story was that she sat here for 20 minutes not allowing other kids off after allowing three out. She escalated the situation along with some parents. She did the wrong thing when she took off dragging the gentleman and running him over and not stopping."
Mock said he called 911 to help diffuse the situation when parents became upset that the driver would not let the kids out. He said he told one parent to stop banging on the door of the bus.
A child who was on the bus told WUSA9 another parent tried opening the door.
School officials reported when the substitute driver returned to the school, another driver took over to complete the route.
"Don't tell me the kids aren't harmed because the kids were screaming and crying when they were brought back," Mock said.
"A lot of the kids thought she ran over a speed bump when it was actually a parent," Mickles said.
Prince William County Police eventually charged Wise with attempted trespassing of a school bus and disorderly conduct. They said after the argument, he began hitting the door and trying to open it. Police said he held on to the door handle as the bus moved.
Parents questioned why the driver was not being held accountable as well.
WUSA9 has reached out Covington-Harper Elementary School for a response to parental concerns and was told they were waiting to respond until they had more information from police.
A Prince William County Public Schools spokesperson said it is policy for parents of kindergarteners to show an ID at drop-off.
School officials have not released a status update on the driver as of Wednesday afternoon.