Around 2 p.m., November 19, Ashley Laquita Moore, 34, parked at her nephew's bus stop near Early Run Lane and Herons Path Place in Riverview. When the school bus arrived, Moore refused the bus driver's request to get out of her car to retrieve her nephew, for whom she is the legal guardian, from the bus, which is required for young students by Hillsborough County Public Schools guidelines.
The bus driver advised Moore that if she did not get out of her car, the child would have to be returned to school. When the bus driver finally pulled away from the stop, Moore pulled her car into the path of travel for the bus and struck the back of the bus with her car to prevent the driver from leaving. Video surveillance footage was obtained by deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, which confirmed that Moore intentionally struck the bus.
There were no injuries, only minor damage to the vehicles, and the only child on the bus at the time of the incident was Moore's nephew. Moore was arrested and criminally charged with Aggravated Assault with a Motor Vehicle and Culpable Negligence.
The School Resource Section and Florida Child Abuse Hotline were notified of the incident.
"We value the safety of our children in Hillsborough County more than anything, and we will not stand for someone putting a child's life at risk," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "This woman's actions were irresponsible and completely uncalled for, since the bus driver was simply doing her job to protect the child on board. Aggressive behavior like this on the roadway is unacceptable."
