Wake Deputies Search for Suspect After School Bus Driver Attacked

Deputies say it all happened between 5:30 and 6 a.m. as Robin Warren was picking up her bus at Willow Springs Elementary School.

According to the Wake County Sheriff's Department, Warren was approached by a man as she got out of her car. He grabbed her, slammed her to the pavement and started dragging her towards the nearby woods.

About the same time, Warren's husband arrived at the school and heard his wife screaming. He rushed over to help and the suspect ran away.

Warren's husband showed up as he does each day. His wife leaves home early to deliver newspapers, then starts her bus route. Her husband meets her at the school bus lot with their children who ride the bus./

"We could have come up to find her body laying over there. You think about it when it's 5:30 in the morning and you are the only one out there. There may be 50 drivers and 50 buses out there, but all 50 don't get there at the same time," says driver Diane Baker.

Deputies and bus drivers say the buses have been vandalized on occasion, and homeless people sometimes sleep on the buses.

School principal Charles Langley says he sees no reason to be alarmed.

"I've not had that experience. I've never had to come on campus and chase anyone off a bus or anything of that nature," says Langley. "As a matter of fact, I haven't seen anyone on our buses other than our drivers and our students."

As for Warren, she says she'll need some time, but says she'll be back to drive her bus. She was not injured in the incident, however her clothes were torn and she says the suspect may have gotten away with a necklace she was wearing.

"I'd never thought I'd come to work to drive the bus and something like this would happen," she says.

The bus lots are scattered, and some are more secure than others. Drivers have asked for one fenced lot, but the school says it is not practical. The principal says the school is not looking to take any additional security measures.

The suspect is still at large and is described as a light-skinned male, between 5'7" and 5'10", wearing a dark t-shirt, dark jeans, gloves and black tennis shoes.