New Bedford school driver stabbed

NEW BEDFORD, Mass., (WPRI) - A man is recovering from stab wounds after being attacked in a bizarre road rage incident while transporting middle school students on Wednesday afternoon.

The school van driver, Paul Medeiros was treated for non-life threatening injuries including wounds to the back of his neck and nose.

Police say the incident happened at the intersection of Hemlock and Dunbar Streets around 3 p.m.

Authorities say 19-year-old Aaron Maldonado assaulted Medeiros while a van full of middle school students watched. Maldonado made a wide turn around the van and honked. Medeiros reportedly honked back.
According to court documents, both men pulled over and started fighting. That's when Maldonado reportedly pulled out a knife and slashed Medeiros.

"He was very calm. He was cut up. He was bloody. He was very calm. He was just concerned with the kids," an eyewitness recounted.

Maldonado has a lengthy criminal record and is being held on several charges including armed assault to murder. He was taken into custody shortly after the incident.

The court documents also say that Maldonado admitted to slashing Medeiros, but only because the van driver said he had a gun on the van and was going to kill him.

School officials say they have counselors available to those students in need.