A Clark County School District transportation aide has been arrested on a felony child abuse, neglect or endangerment charge after a special education student fell from a moving school bus on Oct. 13. Carmen Morris, 42, was taken into custody on Oct. 20 by the Clark County School District Police Department.
According to the arrest report, video from the bus shows Morris appeared to be sleeping and unaware of her surroundings for approximately 19 minutes before the incident. During that time, the boy removed himself from his harness, crawled under seats toward the rear of the bus, and sat behind Morris for several minutes while the vehicle traveled on the freeway.
The report states the student eventually stood at the rear emergency door as the bus exceeded 35 mph. As the bus approached the intersection of Tenaya Way and Alexander Road, the boy opened the door, triggering an alarm, and fell out after the bus accelerated to 11 mph. Morris told police she was unaware of the boy's movements until the alarm sounded and he fell, at which point she exited the bus to retrieve him.
When questioned by police on Oct. 20, Morris denied being asleep and said she suffers from motion sickness. She stated she did not see the boy leave his seat because "he moves really fast" and claimed the student escapes his harness "all the time." The report notes Morris initially said she intentionally let the boy out of his seat but later said he released himself.
Morris has been a district employee since February 2013 and was last assigned as a special education transportation aide. The district said she will be assigned to home without pay per the negotiated agreement with the bargaining unit. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 8.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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