Bus driver handles clash with road rage
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on March 29, 2015 1:50 AM
A charter bus used on a Mount Olive Middle School field trip Wednesday was involved in a possible road rage incident, officials said Friday.
Teachers and a group of seventh-grade students were reportedly on the bus en route to Duke University Wednesday morning when the incident happened, said Ken Derksen, director of communication services for the school system.
"It was brought to the school's attention Wednesday afternoon (after) students had returned from the trip," he said. "A truck driver used his vehicle to slow and stop the charter bus that morning on Highway 117 just before the bus entered the on-ramp to I-40."
Derksen said according to his sources, the bus driver backed up and drove around the truck and the driver who had exited his vehicle and approached the bus.
"The school did speak with teachers and parents who witnessed the incident to determine what happened," he said. "They were told that the bus driver did nothing to provoke the incident."
The bus used for the field trip was not from the district's fleet of activity buses. It was a charter bus owned by Goldsboro Bus Tours.
Derksen said the information obtained by school officials was based upon witness accounts.
"It happened very quickly and then the bus continued, with no further issues," he said.
Jake Scott, dispatcher for Goldsboro Bus Tours, said he had received the call about the incident and believed it was being handled by the Highway Patrol.
"Anything we say would be hearsay," he said. "We're aware of the incident."
He said he had spoken with teachers involved and learned about the possible "road rage" incident involving a truck driver who claimed the bus had cut him off in traffic.
Scott, whose brother, George, owns the bus company, said he had received calls from parents concerned about the incident.
He said it was his understanding that identification of the truck driver had been obtained based on information taken from the business name on the side of the truck.