Bus driver punched in head by teen

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A 14-year-old Lawrence North High School student is under arrest for allegedly assaulting a female bus driver Thursday morning.

Just a few weeks ago, Lawrence Township bus drivers were re-trained on how to handle unruly students, but Janie Tucker said not even the training prepared her for being punched in the head.

Lawrence Township bus 250 was not in its regular parking spot Thursday afternoon. Earlier in the morning, a crime occurred inside it.

"I'm not sure if it was his fist. It felt like it. It was on the side of my right head and it really hurt,” said Tucker.

Janie Tucker said she's been driving school buses for Lawrence Township for 20 years and she's never experienced anything like the incident on Thursday.

She said she went to the back of the bus and told the kid to turn down his music.

"And immediately, as soon as I turned around and went and sat down, I didn't realize it until I viewed the tape that he was following me up the aisle and he proceeded to hit me in the head and cuss at me and just was saying very negative things and using bad language."

24-Hour News 8 asked Lawrence Township spokesperson Dr. Sharon Smith if the tape would be released to the media.

"I'm not sure there is a video tape. If there is a video tape, we have to make sure that we protect the privacy of all of our students because they are minors," she said.

Police arrested the teen and Tucker said she will push for prosecution.

IMPD Sgt. Matt Mount said the charge is serious.

"But battery is a situation where, striking of another individual, touching them in a rude and insolent manner or you know, causing pain is battery with injury actually," said Sgt. Mount.

24-Hour News 8 asked Tucker if she's scared to return to her job?

Tucker responded, "It definitely scared me. I was very shaken and I'm still real shaken about it but you know this has been my lively hood."

And Thursday afternoon, Tucker planned to be back behind the wheel where she plans to stay until she retires.

Police said the 14-year-old is in the Marion County Juvenile Center.

School officials said they're conducting an internal investigation. They said they don't know if he'll be expelled.