Accused in bus driver assault faces judge

KILLINGLY, Conn. (WTNH) - A father faced charges tonight in Killingly, after being accused of assaulting a bus driver.

State Police say the father was upset because the bus driver didn't wait long enough at a stop.

Bus 41 was ready to pick up students at the Killingly Central School and bring them home, but when it dropped the students off Thursday Morning the students were met by teachers and counselors because of what they witnessed.

"It was just really scary," says Sierra Rocha, student.

Rocha and her brother Cruz were waiting for their bus, when he saw Richard Doyle,51, get on in front of them.

"The guy he just came out, and then just walked onto the bus without saying anything to Butch, and just started hitting him," says Cruz Rocha, student.

"I guess he had flipped his glasses off, and his hat, and he had punched him," says Rocha.

The 62-year-old driver told police Doyle yelled "These are my kids." He then slapped the victim in the face with an open hand.

Doyle had no comment outside Danielson Superior Court, but admitted to police he hit the driver because he lost his temper. He said his kids had been fighting, and as they walked out their front door the bus pulled away. That's when he put the kids back in the house and took off after the bus in his pick up truck.

"You figure something like that will never happen at the school, in the bus are one of the safest places that there are, but you never know I guess," says Gail Morin, parent.

The Department of Children and Families was notified because Doyle has two foster children along with his own child. He does not have a criminal record, but now faces charges, including 27 counts of risk of injury to a minor.

"It still kind of scares me, cause like we're wondering if he'll probably come back or something," says Rocha.

As part of his conditions of his release, Doyle was ordered to seek mental health care, and he can not have any contact with the bus driver, meaning his wife will have to take his kids to the bus stop.