Incident Involving School Bus Driver Shakes Dothan Community
In Dothan, Alabama, an alarming incident has recently unfolded that has left residents both shocked and concerned. A 64-year-old school bus driver, Steven Phillip Valentine, is now facing serious criminal charges after a student was caught in the bus doors and subsequently dragged about 150 feet down the street.
What Happened?
On Monday afternoon, around 4 p.m., police received reports about a school bus incident involving a young child exiting a bus from Dothan City Schools. The unfortunate event took place in the 300 block of Summerrain Terrace. As the child, who is under the age of 12, attempted to get off the bus, the driver closed the doors, inadvertently trapping the child by his backpack and arm.
After realizing that the child was stuck, Valentine reportedly continued to drive for approximately 150 feet. Yes, you read that right—150 feet! Thankfully, the child was able to remain on his feet during this harrowing experience, but not without damaging his shoes in the process. Once the bus came to a stop, Valentine did free the child but didn’t take the necessary steps to provide proper assistance or alert authorities.
Immediate Aftermath
According to Dothan Police Lt. Scott Owens, once the child was released from the bus, Valentine did check in with the student, asking if he was okay. However, he didn’t offer any aid or assistance. Instead, he left the scene, continuing his route to drop off other students, without contacting law enforcement or informing Dothan City Schools about the incident.
Police Take Action
Eventually, law enforcement officers were able to catch up with Valentine at the Dothan City Schools Bus Barn after he completed his route. Upon their investigation, they discovered that the child had begun to complain of arm and back pain following the incident. The young victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment but has since been released, and thankfully, he is expected to make a full recovery.
The Legal Side of Things
Valentine now faces a felony charge for leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries. He was taken into custody and booked into the Houston County Jail, where his bond was set at $15,000. Lt. Owens explained that investigators found undeniable video evidence from the bus camera that confirmed the sequence of events as recounted by the victim. They determined that Valentine indeed had failed to meet his legal obligation to provide aid and notify the authorities following an accident.
In Alabama, situations where a passenger falls from or is injured by a moving vehicle on a public road are classified as accidents under the law. This means that the legal responsibility to respond becomes even more significant.
Community Reactions
The Dothan community has been understandably shaken by this incident. Parents are voicing their concerns, wondering how such an event could happen—and what safeguards are in place to prevent it from happening again. Many are calling for stricter protocols for school bus drivers to ensure children’s safety while boarding and alighting from buses.
At this point, it appears no additional charges are expected against Valentine, but many are left pondering what could have been done differently. The safety and well-being of children must always come first, and incidents like this highlight the urgent need for diligence and care on the part of those who are entrusted to protect our young ones.
Conclusion
As the story continues to unfold, we hope the injured child continues to recover and that the Dothan community can come together to seek solutions so incidents like this become a thing of the past. Our children deserve safe journeys on their buses every day!
