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First grader dragged nearly a mile by school bus in North Carolina

A first grade girl was dragged nearly a mile by a school bus, after the driver reportedly closed the door on the little girl’s arm as she got off the bus.
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FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. -- Chelsea Klepzig, 6, a first grader, was dragged nearly a mile by a school bus, after the driver reportedly closed the door on the little girl's arm as she got off the bus.

Highway Patrol says the incident was dispatched as a "child drug by school bus" at 3:43 p.m. Monday, December 7, 2015, WGHP reports.

The girl hung onto the bus, with her arm stuck in the door.  Her parents said her feet and legs were dragged as she held on, adding they were happy she didn't have any less of her body stuck out the door or they fear she would have lost her grip and fallen under the bus.

Chelsea's grandmother followed the bus to the next stop, where she saw the bus doors open and Chelsea fall to the ground, the girl's parents said.

First grader dragged nearly a mile by school bus in North Carolina

Chelsea had minor injuries from the incident. Her parents described them as bruises and scratches.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools issued a statement the day after the incident, saying first and foremost they are “so thankful the student is OK and it was not worse.”

The driver was a substitute bus driver who worked for the school system since 2000; he has been suspended without pay and recommended for dismissal.  A note was reportedly placed on the driver's seat of each bus, reminding drivers of their training that happens every August, a school system spokesperson said.

There were 17 students on the bus at the time of the incident. The school system said, as far as they know, none of the other students witnessed what happened.

No charges have been filed, according to Highway Patrol, and the incident is still under investigation.

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