A school bus ride in Swansea, Massachusetts took a deeply bizarre turn recently when the driver reportedly pulled over, sent his young passengers to the back of the bus, and then used the driver’s seat for something it was absolutely not designed for.
That’s right. He urinated. In the seat. On the bus. With children on board.
The Swansea Police Department is now investigating the incident involving a 71-year-old driver employed by Amaral Bus Company. According to investigators, the driver was in the middle of transporting students to Hoyle Elementary School when nature apparently called so loudly that he felt a moving school bus full of small children was a reasonable answer.
He reportedly finished the route and dropped the students off at school afterward, which somehow makes the whole thing worse.
What Happened After the Kids Got Off the Bus
Twelve students, ranging from Pre-K through second grade, were on board at the time. Several of them reported what they experienced to their teachers once they arrived at school. Swansea Superintendent Scott Holcomb confirmed that police do not believe any of the children actually witnessed the act itself, which is about the only silver lining in this entire situation.
Holcomb did not mince words about the school district’s position: this type of behavior around children, particularly children that young, is flat-out unacceptable. The driver was fired from driving for Swansea Public Schools, full stop.
The district has also filed a report with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families and is now reviewing its entire relationship with Amaral Bus Company. That review will include a close look at the company’s hiring practices to make sure they align with what the district calls its “primary goal” of keeping students safe.
Amaral Bus Company declined to comment when contacted by media.
As of now, no charges have been filed, though the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with concerns can reach Swansea Public Schools directly at (508) 675-1195.
Car enthusiasts talk a lot about driver modding and performance upgrades. This guy apparently took that concept somewhere nobody asked him to go. Some roads, friends, should simply never be traveled.