Students, driver may face charges in videotaped attack on school bus

CHESTER, PA -- Police are investigating the videotaped assault of two alternative high school students in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, by schoolmates on a bus ride home.

The incident happened on Wednesday, October 9 aboard a Pennsylvania School District van.

Dylan Fonner, 17, a friend who was sitting next to him, and three other students were headed home from their school, the Delaware County Alternative High School.

Investigators say those three students, a couple of 16-year-old boys and a girl recorded video for several minutes as they picked on Dylan and his friend.

Near the end of the seven minute video was the punch that caused the Sharon Hill teenager's nose to severely bleed.

"When I saw the video, I was upset and furious all at the same time," Dylan's mother Jackee Fonner said.

Dylan tried to get out of the van near 12th Street and Edgmont Avenue in Chester, but the driver wouldn't let him.

"He didn't even give my son a cotton ball to clean the blood off of him. My son had to use his flannel shirt to clean his face off. He just did absolutely nothing," Jackee Fonner said.

Chester City Police Commissioner Joseph Bail says not only did the 34-year-old bus driver not step in, but the district never reported the assault.

"I have a problem with a grown adult not reporting it," Bail said.

Dylan was treated at a local hospital, but his mother got him out of town after the alleged attacker posted the video to Facebook.

County Alternative High is operated by the Delaware County Intermediate Unit and teaches students with behavioral issues.

The executive director wouldn't tell Action News the status of the alleged attackers, but says the incident is a matter for police and Southeast Delco, which provides transportation and the drivers.

"He has to a responsibility to inform his superiors and the police of a criminal act," Bail said.

Late Monday night, Action News learned charges could come as soon as tomorrow against the three Southeast Delco School District students and their bus driver.

As of now, though, no charges have been filed in this case.

The names of the three students and the bus driver have not been released.

Action News reached out to Southeast Delco Superintendent Stephen Butz, but we did not receive get a response.

This story was reported by WPVI-TV, KTRK's sister station.

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