School Bus Incident

FREEPORT - An early morning incident involving a smoke producing firework on a school bus leads to the arrest of a 14-year-old male student. 

After eight o’clock approximately one mile north of Freeport a Walton Academy bus driver pulled off U.S. Highway 331 after the vehicle began filling with smoke. 

A number of students on the bus reportedly saw the young man ignite the device.

Walton County Sheriff’s Deputies and Freeport Fire-Rescue units arrived on the scene. 

A 15-year-old female student had difficulty breathing and was transported to the Emergency Room at Healthmart Regional Medical Center. 

The girl was treated and later released.

The suspect faces two misdemeanor charges: Disturbance of a School Function and Culpable Negligence. 

The teenager will be released to the custody of his parents. 

The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the students aboard the bus for their calm and mature response that helped defuse the stressful situation.