A former Prince George’s County, Md. bus driver was sentenced to home detention for 30-days and probation for one year after leaving unattended children in his bus, which then drifted into another youth.
Arturo Harris, 61, had been charged with reckless endangerment and a second degree assault against a minor.
“I am truly, truly sorry for what happened,” Harris told Judge Lawrence Hill on Nov. 7 in Prince George’s County Circuit Court. “I love my students; I have dedicated myself to them. I am deeply, deeply sorry.”
According to news reports, Harris pled guilty in September to leaving a child unattended and reckless endangerment. His bus driving privileges in Prince Georges County have also been terminated.
The incident happened April 7 on Powder Mill Road in Beltsville, when Harris left four children onboard a bus as he used the bathroom in High Point High School. After he left, the bus drifted across four lanes of traffic and hit a young boy. The boy, Ives Delmeida, received minor injuries; the children on the bus remained unharmed.
The accident occurred because the bus’ emergency brake was not set correctly, Thomas Morrow, Harris’ lawyer told the AFRO.
Relatives Angela Reed and Antonio Harris were present at the hearing and were happy with the outcome.
“The public school needed to be more involved in this,” Reed said. She explained that the bus her brother drove was a new one and that he was always careful when driving the children. “l think more training was needed in helping him,” she said.
Morrow explained after the hearing that Harris had to file paperwork immediately and appear at the county’s detention center Dec. 8 to start wearing an ankle bracelet with other instructions.
“I believe it was a fair trial,” Harris said. “I love my students. I love my job that I’ve dedicated myself for 13 years.”