SALISBURY — A school bus driver was assaulted on Tuesday after deputies said he attempted to break up a fight between multiple students on the bus.

The incident began at approximately 2:40 p.m., when two students got into a fight while bus 375 from Erwin Middle School dropped off students in the 400 block of Gold Hill Drive, according to a release from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.

The driver attempted to break up the fight, at which a third student became involved in the altercation. The student who started the fight was hit multiple times in the face and head by the other two students, according to the release.

One of the students allegedly jumped onto the back of the driver and attempted to reach around him and hit the other students, hitting the driver in the face.

The other two students were not injured, according to the release.

Because the incident occurred in the city limits of Salisbury, Salisbury police officers responded to the scene. The school resource officer from Erwin Middle School also responded to the scene to investigate the incident. The students were referred to juvenile court authorities for simple assault and one for the assault on the bus driver. The students were all released to parents on the scene, according to the release.