PUYALLUP, Wash. - A 4-year-old preschool student was left on her school bus Monday morning, and was later discovered by a mechanic, according to school officials.
The little girl was supposed to get off the bus at Sunrise Elementary, but she fell asleep.
The driver pulled out and continued on her rounds completely unaware the child was still on board.
Parents can't believe it.
"They're really emotional and everything. I can't imagine what that kid was going through," said Rick Overman.
But that's not all. The bus made its way all the way back across town to the district garage. The driver then parked and headed into the lounge to warm up while the girl sat in the cold. The child went completely unnoticed for 35 minutes, until a mechanic heard her crying.
How could this happen?
"The driver made a horrible error. It should never have happened," said Karen Hansen of the Puyallup School District.
The driver was supposed to check the bus not once, but twice, walking up and down this aisle after the dropoff at school to make sure there weren't any kids on board.
Then when they get back to the garage they're supposed to repeat that procedure and put a sign in the window indicating the bus is empty. School officials say none of that ever happened.
"We fully expect drivers to be conducting their checks, to provide the proper safety. This person made a very bad mistake," said Hansen.
The driver is a 13-year veteran with a good work record. She is on paid leave while the district is investigating and could lose her job.
Parents say that's the price to be paid for breaking a child's trust.
"That can't be. That's not acceptable," said Overman.
