Update: School bus driver assaulted

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - She drives students to school each day, but on Tuesday a driver's morning route became a violent nightmare.

Police say the driver became the victim of a student's rage, and instead of driving the bus to school, she was rushed to the hospital.

The Kalamazoo school-bus driver is recovering on Wednesday after being badly beaten.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, around 7:30 in the morning near the corner of Gull Road and Brook Drive in Kalamazoo Township. Police say that a 16-year-old male repeatedly punched the driver in the face and head.

The teenager is being held at the juvenile home, charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.

Newschannel 3 pulled the young man's records, we can't reveal his name or show his face because he is a juvenile, but we did learn that he has been charged with five assaults going back to 2005.

A source has told Newschannel 3 that several of the victims in those cases were para-pros, or teachers at the teen's school.

The bus driver who was assaulted on Tuesday is a veteran Kalamazoo Public Schools bus driver who was filling in on a route on Gull Road. Police say some of the students on the bus became agitated when she made a stop where there were no students.

At that point the 16 year old got out of his seat, and despite the driver repeatedly telling the teen to sit down, he continued to yell at her, took off his jacket and walked to the front of the bus.

As the student threatened her, the driver grabbed the radio to call for help, and the beating began.

Newschannel 3 watched the video with Kalamazoo Township Police Chief Tim Bourgeois.

"It was very violent," said Chief Bourgeois. "First punch that's followed by repeated punching to the head, at that point she is trying to cover her head with her hands."

As the attack continued, another student tried to put a stop to it.

"The suspect curses at him, pushes him away, and then continues the assault," said Bourgeois.

Eventually students managed to push the suspect toward the back of the bus, allowing the driver to get on the radio and make a call on her cell.

The suspect got off the bus, and took off at the urging of another student before the police arrive.

"When our first officers arrived, the driver was off the bus and the officer contacted her outside," said Bourgeois. "It was obvious she had severe facial injuries and had injuries to her hands."

When police questioned the remaining students on the bus, they refused to give any information. Police did eventually track the student down at his Kalamazoo home.

Newschannel 3 did speak to the victim in the case. She told us that she is doing okay, although her hand was broken while she was trying to fend off the teen and she has broken blood vessels in her eye.