RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A bus driver is charged with child abuse after a three-year-old Wake County student suffered a broken leg in September.
According to a warrant for Tiffian Truesdale, the incident allegedly happened while she “was providing care for the three-year-old as the bus driver from Durant Elementary to the child’s daycare”. It claims in part she “did intentionally inflict serious physical injury, fractured left femur” of the child.
According to the attorney for the victim’s family, the child is non-verbal.
Records show police arrested Truesdale at her home in Zebulon on Monday, nearly two months after the reported crime. She posted $75,000 secured bond and appeared in court Tuesday.
“Ms. Truesdale, you have one charge pending against you,” Judge Margaret Eagles said. “It’s intentional child abuse with serious physical injury.”
Truesdale’s next court appearance is set for Dec. 10.
The Wake County Public School System confirmed the child was a student at Durant Road Elementary, presumably in its pre-K program. The school’s principal sent a letter to families saying in part that the driver is employed by a contract transportation vendor.
“As soon as the district was made aware of information related to a possible injury of a student, the driver was immediately removed from all vendor transportation routes serving WCPSS schools,” the letter reads.
CBS 17 learned the vendor is Student Transportation of America. A spokesperson provided the following statement:
“Student Transportation of America has been collaborating fully with local law enforcement and our district partners. It has always been the policy of STA to adhere to the highest safety standards in each and every aspect of our operations. As a result, this driver was placed on leave as soon as we were made aware of the situation in September. A commitment to safety is a condition of every driver’s continued employment with our company.”
The attorney for the victim’s family provided a statement, which in part reads, “The family is distraught by the thought an individual entrusted with the care of their children could have hurt their child so severely. As a non-verbal toddler who is disabled, their son cannot advocate for himself or share what happened that day.
“Although the family does not have many details as to what happened to their son during that bus ride, we are working closely with the district attorney’s office and law enforcement to learn more and we fully support law enforcement in their continuing investigation.”
Raleigh police say the investigation is ongoing and Wake County Public Schools is working with police to “determine the circumstances surrounding this incident”.