Bus Driver Hits Child

A school bus driver in West Ashley (SC) is accused of striking an 11-year-old autistic boy who was getting on the bus, today’s Post and Courier reports. The alleged incident occurred on September 11. According to a police report, a school employee saw the child hit the child with his hands “after the child was being uncooperative while getting on the bus.” The driver has been suspended without pay. From the Post and Courier:

The officer wrote in his report that he interviewed the child and did not observe any signs of abuse. He also spoke with the child’s teacher, who said she had not observed any signs of abuse or abnormal behavior, the report said.

“It should be noted that (the child) suffers from autism,” the officer wrote.

The boy’s family declined to comment.

But I’m wondering how well the child might have been able to respond to a police officer’s questions? And perhaps the child might have a delayed reaction to the incident, and not be able to communicate this readily?