Bus driver that killed six kids in Chattanooga had lengthy complaint record

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A principal expressed concern about Johnthony Walker’s driving twice in the weeks before the crash, students claimed he was trying to injure them and a parent, responding to complaints he had cursed at children and tried to hurt them with his driving, threatened to beat Walker up, the records allege.

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Going back to at least September, parents and students had complained to Hamilton County Department of Education employees about the driver’s alleged disregard for children’s safety, records show.

One parent, in a letter to to school officials, accused Walker of cursing at children and intentionally slamming his brakes to make them hit their heads and fall out of their seats, according to records. The parent pledged to “beat his arse my damn self” if his driving didn’t improve, records show.

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Earlier this month, school officials received reports that the driver had argued with students and cursed at them. After Walker grew frustrated one day, the driver stated that “he did not care about the students and proceeded to tell the students he did not care about them,” a school system staffer recalled.

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Six students had told school employees the driver was swerving and “purposely trying to cause them to fall,” the principal said. According to school records, at least two students wrote letters to officials expressing concerns for their safety.

One student claimed that the driver “was doing sharp turns and he made me fly over to the next seat.” A second student said the bus felt like it would “flip over” given how fast it traveled.

“He makes (people) hit their head,” the second student wrote.

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