A SCHOOL bus driver injured in an alleged ‘road rage’ incident while taking pupils to Kingsmead School, Wiveliscombe, has criticised the police handling of the incident.

Stephen Pike, who drives for local firm Ridler’s Coaches, was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, for his foot to be X-rayed after the incident, which happened in May.

Mr Pike had stopped his bus in the road near Lydeard St Lawrence Primary School when he said an altercation arose with the driver of a Land Rover who tried to force his way past, according to Mr Pike.

He claimed the Land Rover was then driven at him and knocked him over as it ran over his foot and flattened the steel toe cap of his boot, with the incident witnessed by schoolchildren.

A relief driver had to be sent to drive the bus, while Mr Pike received first aid treatment from one of the primary school’s teaching assistants before being taken to hospital, and the Kingsmead pupils arrived late for school that morning.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said officers had investigated ‘an incident of assault occasioning actual bodily harm’ and were able to identify the Land Rover driver.

The spokesman said the incident was considered suitable to be dealt with via ‘community resolution’, which was used for ‘low-level’ crime and would involve a letter of apology from the driver, which was supported by Mr Pike.

He said: “The driver was spoken to and agreed to follow the community resolution process and wrote a letter to the victim apologising for what happened. This was completed on Thursday, June 8, and provided to the victim.”

However, Mr Pike said he had agreed to the community resolution process because he understood it meant the alleged culprit would accept what he had done, show remorse, and apologise to him.

He said he signed to accept the letter without having read it, because the police officer at the time said his iPad was not charged and he would have to forward it to Mr Pike later.

Mr Pike said when he read the letter he found it completely unacceptable because it contained only an apology for disrupting the children’s journey to school and there was no acceptance of the alleged ‘road rage’ offence.

He said: “The letter has made the situation worse, rather than better. There is not even an acknowledgement of what he did.

“He physically hit me with his vehicle. It was a very frightening incident, lying on the floor with my boot flattened and the Land Rover over me and the engine still running.”

Mr Pike said the police response was at best ‘poor’ and had not resulted in justice being served.

He said: “FIt is the Wild West out here, where you can get away with running someone over if you want.”

Mr Pike said if the police were not going to prosecute for a criminal offence then he would have to look at contacting a solicitor with a view to seeking a private prosecution.