Four accused in bus hijack attempt

Official says he believes students worked together on the ruse.
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) -- Three 11-year-old boys and a 10-year-old girl are accused of trying to hijack a school bus Friday morning.
State police in Punxsutawney said one of the boys held a knife near another student and demanded the driver stop the bus.
The driver, Janet S. McQuown, stopped the bus and took the knife from the boy then continued on her route to Mapleview Elementary. She notified Punxsutawney Area School District officials, who contacted police.
Superintendent Dr. J. Thomas Frantz said he believed that the student the knife was held near knew of the alleged plan and pretended to be hurt in a ruse to get McQuown's attention.
The students have been disciplined but could face additional punishment, Frantz said. None of the four have been identified because they are juveniles.
Two of the boys were placed in the custody of juvenile authorities, while the third boy and the girl were released to their parents, police said.
Forty other pupils were aboard the bus, but no one was hurt, police said.
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