OSSIAN, NY-- An eight-year-old girl was dragged about 900 feet by a school bus Wednesday in Livingston County.
According to State Police, the incident occurred about 2:40 p.m. on State Route 436 in the town of Ossian after three sisters were dropped off the bus.
As the last sister was leaving the bus, driver John Coley, 62, of Wayland, Steuben County, told police that he was not paying attention when he closed the door and trapped her backpack inside.
School officials have placed Coley on administrative leave. Dansville School Superintendent Doctor Paul Alioto says the whole incident was preventable. He met with the girls family soon after.
"It was very difficult to look into the eyes of a mother after this incident had occurred and insure her that her daughter will be safe in the future. Never the less you sit down and you have that very difficult conversation and you want to make sure that the child feels safe in any environment," said Alioto.
Coley continued 900 feet before he realized the girl was being dragged, State Police said.
The girl suffered abrasions and was transported to Nicholas H. Noyes Memorial Hospital in Dansville, Livingston County, by Dansville Ambulance.
Another 8-year-old child on the bus said he hit his head on the seat in front of him when the bus came to a sudden stop, causing an earache.
Friday morning all school bus drivers in the Dansville School District will go through retraining, focusing on students safely getting on and off a bus. Alioto explained what every driver is trained to do.
"The typical procedure is for the bus to come to a stop, apply the air breaks, open the door, permit the students to exit the bus, watch and make sure that they are at least 15-feet away before closing the door, releasing the ai break, checking the side view mirrors for oncoming traffic and when it's clear pulling away from the scene," said Alioto.
State Police were assisted by the Livingston County Sheriff's Office.
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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