Bond Set for Special Education Bus Driver Accused of Cruel Punishment to Children
Ex-School Bus Driver Faces Multiple Charges
In the Lexington County, South Carolina, a former school bus driver for the Lexington School District Two currently faces multiple charges for allegedly punishing special education children by intentionally turning off the air conditioning on the school bus.
Patricia Douglas, 46, has now been charged with ten misdemeanor counts of cruelty to children. A judge has set a personal recognizance bond for Douglas at $4,650, which does not require her to pay any upfront financial deposit.
A Punishment on A Hot Sunny Day
According to the South Congaree Police incident report, the incident took place on May 7 when Douglas purposely shut off the school bus’s air conditioning system as a form of discipline for the students on board. The report particularly emphasized that the weather on that day had reached a high of 91 degrees with clear and sunny skies.
A Shocking Revelation from the Bus Driver
One of the children’s parents, Melissa Derosier, relayed how she was informed by Douglas herself that she had turned off the air conditioning as a method of punishment. Derosier recounted, “She said, ‘I took the air away from the kids as harsh punishment.’ I didn’t say anything to her, I was so shocked.”
The Impact on the Special Children
Akera Allen, whose son with epilepsy was a rider on the bus, told reporters how her son came home feeling sick specifically from the bus ride under the extreme heat. She noted that her son ended up vomiting at home and even required hospitalization, which then led to his absence from school during the state test the following day due to required observations at the hospital.
Termination and Legal Consequences
Following the incident, Lexington School District Two verified that Douglas is no longer employed with the District. In a statement, the district mentioned, “The district maintains policies about staff conduct with students, and violations of these policies can lead to discipline, up to and including termination and possible legal consequences.” Douglas is expected to appear again in court on June 12 at 8:30 am.
The case continues to unfold as further investigations are being conducted.
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
