Bus driver injured in struggle

The school was put on lock-down as a precaution.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Authorities aren't saying what set off a 13-year-old who pulled a knife on his school bus driver.
Shenango Township police had the youth in custody Tuesday night after spending most of the day looking for him. He ran off the bus near Fletcher Hill Road just after 8 a.m.
School bus driver Geribeth Jacobs, 39, was treated for cuts to her hands that she suffered after struggling with the youngster and pulling the knife away from him before he ran off.
Police Chief Allan Nocera said the boy will be charged with aggravated assault and other charges in juvenile court. He would not release the boy's name. A 911 dispatcher confirmed Tuesday night that the boy was in custody, but had no other details.
Shenango schools Superintendent Dr. Larry Connelly said the bus was apparently at the beginning of its morning run because there were only five other elementary pupils on it. Most buses end with 40 or 50 pupils.
Connelly said the youngsters were met by the school guidance counselor when they arrived at school and all of their parents were notified of the matter by telephone. A letter was sent home with all of the children Tuesday.
The school was on voluntary lock-down all day with a constable in the parking lot as a precaution, he said. Connelly noted that they didn't believe there was any threat to the building or pupils inside.
About the pupil
Connelly said the youngster involved was a sixth-grade transfer pupil who had been in the district only a few months. The schools superintendent said the youngster will be expelled for violating the schools weapons policy.
Nocera said the boy grabbed the bus driver by the throat and demanded she pull over. When the driver refused, the youngster put a knife to her throat, the police chief said. Nocera described the knife as a 12-inch-long bread knife with a seven-inch blade.
Nocera said Jacobs grabbed the knife with her hands and started struggling with the boy as she was still driving. Jacobs stopped the bus, and it went into a field on Fletcher Hill Road.
The youngster opened the bus door and ran off, leaving the driver with the knife, Nocera said.
Jacobs locked the bus until police and an ambulance arrived.