Former Salisbury bus driver accused of assaulting student with special needs due in court

SALISBURY, N.C. — A 76-year-old former Salisbury school bus driver is due in court Wednesday after an arrest warrant said she hit a child who is diagnosed with autism.

Grace Oshields King, a former bus driver for Overton Elementary School, resigned after she was charged with assault on a child under 12 and assault on a handicapped person.

King is accused of assaulting a 7-year-old student on a school bus Monday.

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Police said the principal of the elementary school reported the alleged incident that happened when King was driving the students home.

"I just don't feel like you should put your hands on other people's children,” parent Linda McDougald said.

[ALSO READ: CMS raises starting pay for district bus drivers to $15 an hour]

According to officials, bus surveillance video led to King's arrest, but it has not yet been released pending investigation.

The arrest warrant states that King “struck a 7-year-old child with an open hand on the shoulder.”

Officers said King turned herself in, and her first court date will be Feb. 20.

School officials said King had worked as a school bus driver and monitor for nearly 10 years.

"You have to have patience to drive a bus,” said Donna Mannes, a former Rowan-Salisbury School bus driver. “If it gets out of control, pull over and try to get control. If you can't, call the school to send someone to help you.”

Cox Media Group