The district suspended Hash without pay and has recommended his dismissal.
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Chelsea’s mom says, “I’m glad her foot wasn’t damaged more than it was”.
“You didn’t even give her a chance to move. She was still in the door”, recalls Estrella Klepzig.
The girl had hung onto the bus with her arm stuck in the door for nearly a mile, her parents said. Her parents told WGHP that her feet and legs were dragged as she held on.
Hash quickly opened the door and Estrella stated that she watched her granddaughter fall to the ground.
Chelsea Klepzig, a first-grader at Union Cross Elementary School, was dragged down Pine Meadow Drive by a school bus, according to her family.
Chelsea’s socks, trousers and shoes were ripped up but she was okay with some minor bruises and scratches.
They added that if less of her arm had been caught, she could have lost her grip and fallen beneath the vehicle. ‘It scared me. I did not know methods to react to it, ‘ John stated. She’s real, real tough and I’m proud of her. I’m proud that she did as good as she did yesterday, but just for all of it to happen.
On Tuesday, Helm said first and foremost they are “so thankful the student is OK and it was not worse”.
According to Theo Helm, chief of staff with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, every school bus driver in the district receives safety training but reminders have been placed in each bus.
The driver has now been suspended without pay as school officials decide whether to fire him.
The 17 other kids on the bus at the time of the dragging reportedly didn’t see what happened, but if they need to, counselors are available.
The bus driver has resigned, according to a spokesperson for the Winston-Salem school system. The school system also said all bus drivers go over safety procedures in August for safe entry and exit of buses.
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The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating and said no charges have been filed at this time.
