Lynchburg bus driver charged with strangling student

Incident occurred outside Linkhorne Elementary School last week

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:00am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a twisted, crumpled metal object against a pitch-black background, conveying a sense of violence and trauma without depicting any actual violence.A troubling incident of alleged student assault by a school bus driver exposes the need for heightened safety protocols and oversight.Lynchburg Today

A Lynchburg City Schools bus driver has been charged with strangulation and child neglect following an incident that occurred outside Linkhorne Elementary School last week, according to local police.

Why it matters

The alleged assault on a student by a school bus driver raises serious concerns about student safety and the vetting process for hiring school transportation staff. This incident has shaken the local community and prompted calls for increased oversight and training for school bus personnel.

The details

Police say the bus driver, whose name has not been released, is accused of strangling a student outside Linkhorne Elementary School. The driver has been charged with strangulation and child neglect, though the specific details of the incident have not been made public.

  • The incident occurred last week outside Linkhorne Elementary School.

The players

Lynchburg City Schools

The public school district serving the city of Lynchburg, Virginia.

Linkhorne Elementary School

An elementary school in Lynchburg, Virginia where the alleged incident took place.

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What’s next

The bus driver has been arrested and is awaiting trial. The school district has launched an internal investigation into the incident and its hiring practices.

The takeaway

This troubling incident highlights the need for rigorous background checks, ongoing training, and close supervision of all school transportation staff to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students.