DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A Volusia County school bus driver has been fired after dropping off an elementary school student at the wrong stop in Daytona Beach.
Officials said the 5-year old girl was dropped off at Derbyshire Road and Wright Street, about a mile from her home bus stop.
The girl's mother, who didn't want to be identified by name, told Channel 9's Blaine Tolison that a good Samaritan found the kindergarten student crying alongside the road.
"I thought I didn't, I wouldn't see my mom no more," the girl told Tolison
Officials with the Volusia County School District worked over the last several weeks trying to determine what led to the mistake.
The incident happened during the second week of school.
"She had no idea where she was and then some strangers picked her up. Thank God they were good people, but still, they were strangers and her just not knowing. It's scary, it's a scary feeling," the mother said.
The strangers flagged down another school bus. After an hour and 15 minutes police reunited the girl with her parents.
"I was mad. Like, after I found out what happened, I was very mad at the bus driver," the mother said.
According to the school district's investigation, the bus driver claimed she didn't receive a bus pass for the girl, but officials said video evidence shows that they girl did show the driver a pass.
Officials said when the driver was confronted with the evidence, she accepted responsibility and told them she was a new bus driver dealing with a "rowdy" group of students.
"I mean, it ended up way better than it could have. It could have been so much worse right now," the mother said.
It was the first time the 5-year-old had taken the bus home.
District officials said the bus driver, Shaamar Wallace, had been driving for the district for a month and was on probationary status. They said she was fired.
WFTV
