Mom suing Horry County Schools after bus driver shut door on daughter’s arm while driving

The mother of an 8-year-old girl enrolled in Horry County Schools is suing HCS and a former bus driver after he shut the school bus door on the girls arm and continued to drive , according to the lawsuit.

Stephanie Floyd-McInnis is suing over negligence after her daughter, referred to A.M. in the lawsuit, sustained injuries and mental anguish because her arm was trapped in a school bus door.

In August 2023, A.M. was riding the bus home when she was instructed to get off because it was her stop. Her mother said in a press conference on July 24 that A.M. had fallen asleep, so she took extra time to reach the front of the bus.

Once at the door, A.M. started to get off but hesitated when she saw dogs sitting outside.

Floyd-McInnis said the dogs have been a consistent problem in the neighborhood, and multiple people have complained about them. She also said her daughter is afraid of dogs.

A.M. stood in the doorway of the bus for a minute while bus driver Thomas Interlandi and an aide tried to convince her to exit, as shown in footage taken from the bus. Interlandi closed the door and began backing up, and at the same time, A.M. stuck her hand out.

A.M. immediately let Interlandi know her arm was stuck and he acknowledged this by telling the aide, “I know, she shouldn’t have put her hand there.”

After driving backward for 40 seconds, Interlandi opened the school bus door, and A.M. exited. As she left, Interlandi said, “Serves you right.”

“The Minor Plaintiff walked off the bus shocked, distressed, and suffering severe physical injuries to her left wrist/arm that was trapped in the door that required medical attention,” the lawsuit stated.

During a February press conference Floyd-McInnis said her daughter has gone to physical therapy to deal with nerve pain caused by her arm being stuck. She is also afraid to ride the school bus.

Interlandi was initially arrested and charged with unlawful conduct against a child, but the charges were later dropped. HCS fired him following the incident.

The Sun News contacted HCS for a comment but did not hear back before publication.

In February, Interlandi, told The Sun News, “That’s a lie, (the case) has been dismissed. I’ve been through living hell because the mother lied. There was no probable cause at the hearing. I was dismissed, everything has been expunged.”

Floyd-McInnis is suing Interlandi and HCS for gross negligence/recklessness, negligent supervising/training/hiring, loss of personal services, unreasonable seizure and excessive force, and a violation of due process. They are asking a jury trail and damages for the cost of actions, lawyer fees and various damages.

She is also requesting the solicitor’s office to re-indict Interlandi because it was never brought to a jury.

“Parents should feel like their kids are safe in school. Everyone deserves to be treated well,” said her attorney Taylor Bailey at the Wednesday press conference.