Ashley Hegel had a moment of panic during the first days of school.
Her five year old daughter was dropped off at the wrong bus stop -- and left in the care of a stranger.
"Words can't even express the emotions and fear that it brings up to think about what could have happened to my daughter if this gentleman had not had good intentions," said Ashley.
Ashley says the driver allowed the kindergartner to get off at a stop down the street from their Richland home.
"She pulled up to the apartment and saw a gentleman outside smoking and asked if he recognized her daughter," recounted Ashley.
The stranger apparently confused the young girl with another he knew.
Ashley says once he realized his mistake -- he dropped off the girl with another neighborhood woman and went to find Isabelle's parents.
"I could tell she was scared - she just told me they had dropped her off at the wrong place," said Ashley.
Ashley still can't believe this happened.
"There's no excuse for a bus driver not calling the parents when they're not sure where the child lives or where the child's supposed to be dropped off!"
She's right -- the Richland School District policy reads clearly:
If someone is not available to receive a student from a bus -- the student will be returned to the school and the parent will be called to pick up the student.
I went to the district for answers.
They told me an investigation is underway.
"What will happen to a bus driver after they let this child go without 100 percent confirmation from this man who identified her?" I asked.
"We're going to confirm our processes and our policy with all our drivers that transport kids," replied Support Services Director Mark Panther.
Until then, Ashley says she'll drive her daughter home.
"I want to feel confident and safe with my daughter riding the bus," said Ashley.
The driver has not been fired. The district wants to get a full account of exactly what happened and will make sure this doesn't happen again.
We'll follow up so you can be assured the same thing doesn't happen to your child.
Her five year old daughter was dropped off at the wrong bus stop -- and left in the care of a stranger.
"Words can't even express the emotions and fear that it brings up to think about what could have happened to my daughter if this gentleman had not had good intentions," said Ashley.
Ashley says the driver allowed the kindergartner to get off at a stop down the street from their Richland home.
"She pulled up to the apartment and saw a gentleman outside smoking and asked if he recognized her daughter," recounted Ashley.
The stranger apparently confused the young girl with another he knew.
Ashley says once he realized his mistake -- he dropped off the girl with another neighborhood woman and went to find Isabelle's parents.
"I could tell she was scared - she just told me they had dropped her off at the wrong place," said Ashley.
Ashley still can't believe this happened.
"There's no excuse for a bus driver not calling the parents when they're not sure where the child lives or where the child's supposed to be dropped off!"
She's right -- the Richland School District policy reads clearly:
If someone is not available to receive a student from a bus -- the student will be returned to the school and the parent will be called to pick up the student.
I went to the district for answers.
They told me an investigation is underway.
"What will happen to a bus driver after they let this child go without 100 percent confirmation from this man who identified her?" I asked.
"We're going to confirm our processes and our policy with all our drivers that transport kids," replied Support Services Director Mark Panther.
Until then, Ashley says she'll drive her daughter home.
"I want to feel confident and safe with my daughter riding the bus," said Ashley.
The driver has not been fired. The district wants to get a full account of exactly what happened and will make sure this doesn't happen again.
We'll follow up so you can be assured the same thing doesn't happen to your child.