Utah bus driver on administrative leave after making ‘inappropriate comments’

LEHI, Utah — A bus driver for the Alpine School District has been placed on administrative leave after reportedly making threats to students Friday afternoon.

In a video sent to KSL, the bus driver can be heard saying she will “shoot them” for asking “where are we going.”

The Alpine School District released a statement about the incident, saying:

We are aware of a situation on a bus today. The employee is on administrative leave pending an investigation. We strongly condemn any threatening action or language directed toward others. We expect all employees to create safe and nurturing environments free of verbal or physical threats. Appropriate action will be taken to ensure this matter is addressed and not repeated.

A statement was also sent to parents of Dry Creek Elementary School from Rex Brimhall, director of transportation for the Alpine School District, which reads, in part, “We have initiated a full investigation of the incident and want you to know that your students will be safely transported to and from school Monday and beyond.”

According to a parent email, the bus driver “has been verbally abusive and a bully to the children,” adding that she “frequently yells at the children and tells them to ‘shut up.'”

Lauren Byrd, who’s 4th grader was on the bus, told KSL, “My daughter said that the kids in the front seat turned around, and like, looked like a deer in headlights, like, did she really just say that.”

The 4th grader’s other parent, David Byrd, said, “We don’t know who this person really is, right? We don’t know how many guns they have. We don’t know how frustrated they are with life. We don’t know if they like children, at all. You know, we don’t know if they are are going to snap, this is going to be the next Uvalde.”

This article will be updated as additional information becomes available.