Posted by: Nguyen Duc Duy

Seeking The Ultimate Answers: The Troubling Case of A Child’s Arm Stuck In A School Bus Door

In a startling Horry County incident last year, a young girl’s arm became stuck in a school bus door. This has sparked a controversy that brought up issues of racial intolerance. Stephanie Floyd, the girl’s mother, has said emphatically that she believes race played a significant role in how the matter was handled later on. Since the incident, the girl, who is African-American, has been coping with anxiety, physical therapy, and nerve discomfort.

The Incident in Detail

A frightening incident occurred in Horry County last year when a 7-year-old African-American girl got her arm stuck in a school bus door. The girl, whose fear of a dog outside the bus had prompted her to stay put, was at the mercy of the bus driver, Thomas Interlandi. 

As Interlandi initiated the closure of the bus doors to drive away, the girl’s arm was trapped in the door. This is seemingly a predicament that Interlandi ignored. Despite the girl’s pleas, Interlandi continued driving and uttered words that have since been the subject of much criticism. 

He reportedly said, “You shouldn’t have put your hand out,” when the girl informed him that her hand was caught. His response after she was finally able to disembark, “Serves her right,” has added further fuel to the controversy.

The driver - Thomas Interlandi

In the aftermath of the incident, legal proceedings were set in motion. Interlandi was arrested and charged with unlawful conduct against a child. However, the subsequent dropping of charges due to the purported lack of probable cause cast shadows on the proceedings.

The girl’s mother, Stephanie Floyd, has been unwavering in her stance that racial bias played a significant role in the dismissal of the case. Eventually, this added a complex dimension to the incident. Interlandi, who is white, has vehemently denied the allegations of racial bias. Following the incident, Interlandi’s employment with Horry County Schools was terminated, but the specific circumstances surrounding this termination remain unclear.

The Incident’s Impact on the Child

The young girl’s life has been permanently affected by the occurrence, including her commute to school. The emotional trauma has caused significant psychological effects, and the nerve discomfort has required continuous physical therapy. She has been experiencing anxiety and sleep issues, which are typical signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Stephanie Floyd has been taking her daughter to school after realizing her severe dread of riding the bus. The girl’s extreme emotional response to the mere notion of taking the bus demonstrates the extent of her trauma.

Call for Justice

Horry County School bus driver accused of closing a bus door on a child's arm, making her stuck in a school bus door.

Floyd is working with John Barnett of the National True Healing Under God civil rights organization to seek justice. They held a press conference requesting all the charges to be reinstated and inclusion of additional charges. John C. Barnet, a civil rights activist, agreed with Floyd’s stand at the press conference, asking the officials to think twice before dropping the case against Interlandi. In addition, he has directed the solicitor’s office to reach out to the girl’s family members within two weeks. Or they will organize a march to Conway or hold a press conference.

In the long run, this occurrence takes as a moral lesson of the current struggles with racial bigotry in our society.

1 Comment

  1. Joe on March 17, 2024 at 3:46 am

    Its girls mistake why people don’t. Admit its her mistake still some people put fingers on bus driver. That child parents need to give proper instruction to their child . If after this bus driver is charged with any thing. . That child also need to go in jail with their parents . I am talking about what ever i see in this picture. If the story is change do what ever you want with the criminal.

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