Central Square, New York (WSYR-TV)- A 17-year-old Hastings teen is facing assault charges for allegedly punching a Central Square Schools bus driver earlier this month.
Katie Pulver, a Central Square High School student, has been charged with third degree assault in connection with the alleged incident.
State Police say they do not know why Pulver allegedly punched the 27-year-old bus driver around 6:40 AM on June 12th.
Pulver was issued an appearance ticket last night, and is scheduled to be in Hastings Town Court on July 1st.
From June 15th, 2009
Central Square (WSYR-TV) - A 17-year-old female student at Central Square's Paul V. Moore High School is accused of punching a bus driver in the head and the face.
State police say the attack happened at about 6:40 Friday morning.
High school student Steve Brown says he heard his bus driver shouting for help Friday morning.
State police are now investigating what led up to the alleged attack between the 27-year-old female driver and one of her teenage passengers.
“The bus driver was either punched in the head or the face. I don't specifically know where or how many times,” says Trooper Rae Anne Hickok.
So far, no arrests have been made. State police say they are waiting for the bus driver's medical evaluation.
Hickok says if a doctor determines that the bus driver has injuries such as a broken cheek bone or broken eye socket, it would be considered third-degree assault in New York State.
The superintendent did not want to go on camera, but the school district released a statement saying they are conducting their own internal investigation, and that the student involved is undergoing school district disciplinary procedures.
“It shouldn't be done,” Brown says. “Kids fight in school and outside of school, [but punching] a bus driver, I don't think it should be done.”
That’s a message both the school district and state police are sending Monday night as this investigation goes on.
The school district also stated that appropriate consequences will be handed out based on what their investigation concludes.
There’s no word yet on when the bus driver will return to work.
