GoFundMe set up for fired Broken Arrow school bus driver

Written By: John Dobberstein

(BROKEN ARROW, Okla.) A GoFundMe has been set up to provide financial help to a Broken Arrow Public Schools bus driver who lost his job after being arrested.

Read this article on The Broken Arrow Sentinel here. 

The fundraiser to help 68-year-old Thomas Young with living expenses will be active until Oct. 28, said organizer Krystal Byrd.

Young was arrested by the Broken Arrow Police Department Oct. 13 on kidnapping and child abuse charges after he refused to let unruly students off the bus. Some students opened the emergency exit to the bus and started jumping out as the bus has started moving.

BAPS said that once Young had been arrested on felony charges he could no longer work for the school district and he was fired.

But Tulsa County District Attorney Steven Kunzweiler declined to file charges Friday, saying the evidence on video and gathered during the investigation was insufficient.

Kunzweiler said the decision is based on the available facts “and the high burden of proof required for a conviction, which is beyond a reasonable doubt. We do not reasonably believe that a jury would convict nor would sentence a person to prison based upon the facts submitted to us.”

BAPS said it is still working to identify the unruly students on the bus and they could face disciplinary action for violating bus regulations. 

For updates, subscribe to our free newsletter!