Bus Driver Charged With Child Abuse

An 8-year-old girl with special needs slapped and pushed her bus driver. The bus driver then used her foot to push the child off the bus.

That’s according to Tampa Police Department officers who arrested the Carrollwood area woman on aggravated child abuse charges today, Oct. 25.

According to a police department media release, the incident took place on Sept. 28 around 7:40 a.m. The girl wanted to get off the bus and the driver told her to wait, the release said. The child then slapped and pushed the driver.

“The suspect decided it was the victim's turn to exit the bus,” the release said. “The victim started to walk down the steps, but then stopped in the middle of the stairs. The bus driver used her foot to push the victim off the bus.”

At this point, the girl fell to the ground. She suffered a fractured distal fibula, or broken ankle, as a result, the release said.

Stephanie Wilkerson, 40, of 12701 Four Oaks Road in Tampa was arrested at 2 p.m. today at the Hillsborough County Public Schools Transportation facility, 9455 Harney Road in Temple Terrace.

The child attends Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School, 3111 W. Tampa Bay Blvd.