Family of girl whose arm was locked into bus door sues Horry County Schools, driver
CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) — The family of a girl who had a bus door closed on her arm as the vehicle traveled in reverse last summer sued Horry County School and the driver on Wednesday.
Thomas Michael Interlandi was initially arrested and charged with unlawful conduct toward a child as a result of the Aug. 25, 2023, incident, but the case was eventually dismissed.
Alliza Floyd was 8 years old and attending Pee Dee Elementary School when the incident happened. Video surveillance showed the girl coming home on the bus and her interactions with Interlandi and another adult female.
After about 90 seconds of the driver and assistant telling her to get off the bus, and Alliza refusing, the driver shuts the door on her arm.
After driving in reverse for about 30 seconds with her arm outside of the bus, the video shows the driver stopping the bus and opening the door. As she is leaving, the driver says, “OK, goodbye. Serves her right.”
Alliza’s mother, Stephanie Floyd-McInnis, has previously said her daughter didn’t want to get off the bus because she was scared of dogs outside.
Stephanie-Floyd-McInnis-v.-Horry-County-SchoolsDownload
“Defendant Thomas Michael Interlandi’s force used in shutting the door … after she refused to get off the bus due to fear of dogs was severe, disproportionate to the need presented and was inspired by malice and/or sadism,” the lawsuit says. “It was an inhumane abuse of power and shocking.”
Horry County Schools spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier said Wednesday the district doesn’t comment on pending litigation, but that Interlandi’s employment ended on Aug. 29, 2023.
New details of exactly what happened that day were also revealed in the lawsuit, including Interlandi reportedly saying, ‘you see what I have to go through,’ after Alliza got off the bus.
Floyd-McIninis is suing on grounds of negligence, negligent supervision, loss of personal services, violation of Alliza’s Fourth Amendment protections and violation of federal due process.
Floyd said in February her daughter suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the incident and is undergoing physical therapy.
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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.
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