Posted on 08/27/2026 9:33:41 AM PDT by Red Badger
A California school bus ride home turned into a scene out of a third-world country Monday when furious parents smashed their way onto a Calaveras Unified bus and children started climbing out the windows because the driver refused to let the kids off.
The wild scene unfolded along Highway 49 near Russell Road in Calaveras County after students were held on the stopped bus for about an hour.
According to KCRA 3, the trouble began when a student reportedly tried to climb out a window before the bus had come to a stop.
The driver then pulled over, contacted law enforcement, and ordered the students to remain seated and roll up the windows. The children were reportedly kept aboard for nearly an hour while they waited for deputies to arrive.
Video recorded by a student shows the scene rapidly spiraling out of control as students shouted, parents gathered outside, children squeezed through open windows, and at least one adult climbed into the bus.
One 12-year-old student told KCRA that the children had been loud and excited to get off the bus before the situation escalated.
Nichole Wellington said her frightened son called her from inside the bus. She rushed to the scene and demanded that the driver release him.
“Dude, open the door. Let me have my kid,” Wellington recalled telling the driver. According to Wellington, he refused.
Wellington then instructed her son to climb out through a window.
She argued that the chaos could have been avoided if the driver had simply released children to the parents who had arrived to collect them.
This type f story is very easy to jump to conclusions at face value.
Experience tells me that I don’t have all the facts to make a judgement on why a bus driver who is entrusted with the safety of children chose to act in such a manner.
thoughts:
School in August?
Calaveras/Coalinga?
Our busses have cameras................
Was it near Chowchilla?
You have to let the cops finish their donuts before doing their job.
Highway 49 near Russell Road in Calaveras County .................
Exactly.
Today’s society making literally everything a police thing is what is causing these issues.
The police clearly saw this as a waste of time and took their time getting there.
Stopping and waiting for an hour obviously is not a good idea either.
I don’t know why. But your comment just made me laugh like hell. Thank you.
A kid jumped out a window. The bus driver is liable for anything that happens to the kids. He called the police and for some reason it too them an hour to arrive.
The bus driver made all the right moves to protect the kids and himself.
The cops took too long to respond and the parents over reacted.
Not in most jurisdictions. No asportation.
Picky, picky, picky. :o)
OF COURSE school buses have that back door exit!
In my state the driver is REQUIRED by law to deliver the kids to their designated bus stop. The kids cant get off with a friend at a different stop. This poor slob was probably “just following orders” but it’s unclear why he felt it necessary to call the cops.
The trouble began when a student reportedly tried to climb out a window before the bus had come to a stop.
Yeah and if one did get out and hurt they would be suing him for it.
Parents need to train their animals better.
Dumb a**es.
In my state the driver is REQUIRED by law to deliver the kids to their designated bus stop. The kids cant get off with a friend at a different stop. This poor slob was probably “just following orders” but it’s unclear why he felt it necessary to call the cops.
Calling the police for every little thing is what is causing this issue. They don’t take this crap seriously because they are being asked to be babysitters. That is why it took an hour to get there cause they had real police work to do.
Sigh, even Dirty Harry will kick the bucket. He is 95 years old! Yikes! It won't be long.
A kid jumped out of a bus window. This alone requires an emergency response to protect the kid.
The bus driver is liable for the kids.
It's the job of the police to respond to calls.
The parents over reacted.
Holding kids hostage is an overreaction by the bus driver.
what country did the bus driver immigrate in from?
could the bus driver speak english?
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