A school bus driver in Cleveland dropped a 6-year-old girl off nearly 40 minutes early on Kinsman Road, with no parent waiting. The child was found crying and walking alone near the busy roadway. Tiyonna Betts saw her, asked where she was headed, learned she was lost, and drove her home. Her mother, Mari Richardson, was still getting ready to leave for the bus stop when they arrived.
Rightway Transportation confirmed the early drop-off violated company policy. The driver has been disciplined and removed from the route. Richardson has filed a police report and wants charges pressed, saying she can no longer trust the school bus to get her daughter home safely.
The story raises real questions for families here at home on the Suncoast: what happens when a bus runs early, who’s supposed to call, and how much of this relies on plain old neighborly watching out. Would you know what to do if you saw a young child alone near a busy road? Share your thoughts with us.
