A Dayville man was so angry his children missed their school bus that he hopped in his truck, chased after the bus, and attacked the driver, according to police.
Richard Doyle, 51, appeared in Danielson Superior Court Friday morning on charges of third degree assault, disorderly conduct, and risk of injury to a minor. He was released on a $15,000 bond and ran away from reporters as he left the courthouse.
Doyle parked behind bus No. 41 when it stopped to pick children up at the intersection of North Road and Route 101 on Thursday morning, police said. He then boarded the bus and slapped the driver so hard that his glasses and hat flew off his head, according to court documents. It happened as the driver was belted into his seat.
"I noticed it was taking a really long time for the bus to leave," said Gail Morin, who's two children ride the bus to Killingly Central School. They were waiting to board the bus when the attack happened. In all, 27 children witnessed the assault, according to court records.
"Once he stopped for us and the neighbors to get on, he just went on the bus and started hitting him," said Sierra Rocha, Morin's daughter.
"He just came on the bus and just started hitting him. He didn't say a single thing," said Cruz Rocha, Morin's son.
When police caught up with Doyle at his nearby home, he admitted yelling at the bus driver and hitting him in the head, according to court records. He told police he lost his temper and feels bad about what he did, according to those court records.
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"The driver was buckled in so he really was defenseless," said Morin. "You don't expect that to happen, in front of the children no less."
The bus driver was checked out at a local hospital and returned to work Friday morning.
"I was glad to see him on the bus again," said Cruz Rocha.
Doyle will return to court next month. He's been ordered to stay away from the victim and the bus stop.
