Former New Hampshire School Bus Driver Accused Of Kicking, Assaulting 'Vulnerable' Students With Disabilities

A former school bus driver in New Hampshire has been charged with multiple crimes after she was accused of slapping and kicking multiple students with disabilities, according to police.

On Feb. 17, Virene Poliquin, 68, was arrested in connection with the incident involving three juveniles between the ages of 5 and 6 on a school bus in Hudson that transports students with disabilities, Hudson Police Chief Tad Dionne said at a press conference.

A parent of one of the students notified the Hudson School District on Feb. 20 and an investigation was conducted and the findings turned over to police, officials said.

Poliquin is accused of assaulting one student seven times and two other students once each, Dionne said.

The alleged assaults all took place on the bus and included kicking, slapping, covering the children's mouths with her hand, grabbing, and pouring water on them, officials said, noting no injuries were ever reported.

Dionne said the investigation was ongoing to determine if any of the alleged incidents may have occurred on other occasions.

He added, “I have been a police officer a long time, needless to say there are not too many events that make me pause when reviewing a case. This incident did so, the victims in this case are among our most vulnerable."

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Poliquin was taken into custody on March 6 and she faces nine misdemeanor counts of simple assault, officials said.

She is no longer employed by Durham Bus Company, which is contracted with the local school district.

She is scheduled tto appear in court on April 6 for her arraignment.