A Tasmanian bus driver has been stood down after a group of terrified primary school students fled a Metro bus and sought help from police following an alleged altercation on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident, which reportedly unfolded in the Burnie suburb of Acton, saw two young sisters among several children who got off the bus early after the driver allegedly became angry over spilled yoghurt.
Their mother was waiting at the usual stop with her two youngest daughters when the bus arrived without the girls, aged six and eight, on board.
She boarded the bus to confront the driver and, as reported by the ABC, said she noticed a damaged security screen separating the driver’s cabin from passengers.
Other children told her the sisters had got off earlier after the driver allegedly “went psycho”.
The woman later found her daughters with three police officers nearby.
“They were hysterically crying, all the children were crying,” she told the ABC.
Metro Tasmania confirmed the driver had been suspended pending an investigation, saying it takes the safety of staff and passengers seriously.
It said it was working with Romaine Park Primary School and Tasmania Police to look into the incident.
School principal Kylie Hyland addressed the incident on Facebook.
“We are working with the authorities. Everyone is safe and accounted for,” she said.
“Support for students will be available [on Thursday].”
Tasmania Police said no formal report had been made and officers were not investigating the matter.
