Teen Dragged By Wyandotte School Bus

Associated Press

WYANDOTTE, Okla. (AP) -- A 15-year-old girl is recovering from scrapes and bruises after being run over by a Wyandotte school bus and dragged about 400 feet.

Sydney Pierce, an eighth-grader at Wyandotte Schools, said she was leaving the school about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when the strap of her book bag got caught on the inside railing of the bus. As her arm was entangled in the strap, the bus door closed and started moving.

"The bus started moving and pulling me," Sydney said. "I started running. I was trying to get my arm out of the strap and to keep up with the bus, but I fell down, and it (bus) dragged me (on my stomach)."

Sydney said when the book bag strap broke she flipped over and could see the bus wheels moving.

"I curled into a ball -- except my right leg, which was run over," Sydney said. "I thought I was going to die."

The school released a statement on the incident, but declined to identify the bus driver.

"To the best of my knowledge, the student was released from the hospital, is at home and plans to return to school on Monday," said Troy Gray, Wyandotte superintendent. "Due to an ongoing investigation, and the privacy rights of the individuals involved, we are unable to release any other information at this time."

Rhonda Pierce, Sydney's mother, said the family doesn't plan any legal action against the school and assumes the school will take care of Sydney's medical bills.

Sydney said the bus driver was talking on his cell phone, which the girl said was unusual.

"I don't want him fired. He is just a nice guy, and it was an accident," Sydney said.

As Sydney lay on the muddy dirt road bleeding, the bus driver made another stop dropping off two students and noticed something was wrong when he saw the broken book bag in the bus door and Sydney lying in the road.

The driver telephoned for help and ran to get Sydney's parents.

"She is banged up with lots of scrapes, abrasions, contusions and bruises," Rhonda Pierce said.

Along with the bruises and contusions, Sydney's right side of her face is covered with road scrapes and she can't walk or move her right leg.

"I'm just pretty sore," Sydney said.

"Her right knee still shows the waffle tire mark," Rhonda Pierce said.