Crime & Safety
DATTCO Fires Driver Involved in Bus Accident
Company official says 72-year-old David Morrell was let go for violating company policy.
A DATTCO school bus driver involved in an accident last week in Durham has been fired, according to the company.
72-year-old David Morrell of Chester was behind the wheel of a bus with 16 Memorial Middle School students on board when he went off the road and hit a tree along Route 147.
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The accident caused the bus' front windshield to break but Morrell continued driving the bus to the school where he dropped off the students.
"Our investigation determined that he violated our company policy," Cliff Gibson, DATTCO CEO said Wednesday. The policy requires drivers to stop if an accident has taken place.
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Police said the students were shaken but none of them suffered serious injuries.
Morrell was immediately suspended from driving for Region 13 or any other school district while the investigation was ongoing.
Police have charged Morrell with failure to drive in the established lane.
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