By Bryan Jaffe

ST. MARY’S TODAY

LEONARDTOWN — A St. Mary’s public school bus driver was allegedly assaulted by a student on the bus during her afternoon run from Leonardtown High School last Monday.

The assault, which is currently under investigation by the school and police, occurred during Bus Driver Helen Wilson’s afternoon run. According to the Bus Conduct report she filed, Robert Sullivan, 15, of Hollywood, was getting off the bus when he hit the top of her head with his elbow.

"It shocked me so badly and it caused me to have an awful headache," Wilson said in the misconduct report.

The student is reportedly a strapping six footer.

The Maryland State Police were called in, and Trooper First Class McLean took the police report.

It is now up to the courts to determine guilt or innocence, and to determine the appropriate punishment for Sullivan.

This was the second time in the past month that Wilson has filed a misconduct report for Sullivan; the first incident occurring on May 4. No action was taken against the student after the first report.

According to St. Mary’s Schools Director of Transportation Reed Walker, the matter is under investigation by Leonardtown High School.

"From what they have been able to ascertain, the student was horseplaying around with another student and accidentally bumped the driver in the head," said Walker, who added that it did not appear to be intentional or malicious.

When asked what the school system would do to protect the safety of the bus driver should Sullivan be found to have intentionally assaulted her, Walker said that it was not in his jurisdiction to decide.

"I only deal with the drivers and their behaviors or perceived behaviors," he said, "The schools handle disciplinary issues."