Pasco school bus driver killed in attack in front of kids

A Pasco school bus driver died after being stabbed in front of a busload of kids Friday afternoon.

The male bus driver was picking up children after classes ended for the day at Longfellow Elementary School, when a man got on the bus, said Pasco police.

It’s not yet clear when or why the man boarded the bus.

Police were called at 3:09 p.m. for reports of a stabbing at 301 N. 10th Ave.

After the driver was assaulted, he apparently lost control of the bus, drove over a curb and a sidewalk before hitting some bushes and a tree at the school.

Paramedics rushed him to a Tri-Cities hospital but he died, said police.

The attacker didn’t leave the area and waited for police to arrive and cooperated with authorities as he was arrested, said Police Capt. Bill Parramore.

Detectives planned to release more information on Monday.

Children in the bus and others outside the school were taken back inside. None of them were hurt, Parramore said. Parents were called by the school to come picked them up.

“We are devastated by the tragic loss of one of our own,” Pasco Superintendent Michelle Whitney said a statement to employees Friday night.

“Our focus right now is on supporting our students and staff who are deeply impacted by this tragedy,” she wrote.

The Pasco School District sent school district counselors to Longfellow and the transportation office to support students and staff.

Counselors were available over the weekend and on Monday at both locations to help students and employees.

The bus was in the turnaround lot along North Ninth Avenue about three blocks north of the Fiesta Foods grocery.

This story was originally published September 24, 2021 at 4:31 PM.