Students at Clear Sky Elementary School in Castle Rock, Colorado, found themselves in a harrowing situation when their bus driver abandoned them on the way home. This incident has left parents and students alike in a state of shock and concern.

"Bus Driver's Abandonment: A Nightmare for Students and Parents"

Bus Driver's Erratic Behavior

One of the students described the initial moments as "super, super scary." The bus driver first refused to leave the parking lot until the kids stopped talking. This delay caused them to leave school later than usual. Once on the road, the driver started skipping stops, leaving the students feeling as if they were being kidnapped. They ended up two miles away from the school at the corner of Wolfensberger and Auburn, with a bus full of about 40 kids.The students were understandably stressed and frightened. It was around 5 p.m., getting dark and cold. They even forgot their jackets on the bus due to the stress. "I felt like I was never going to get home," said one student.

Strangers Come to the Rescue

A stranger offered the girls a ride and helped them call their mom, Ashley Stark. This act of kindness provided some relief in a very difficult situation. Stark was absolutely petrified when she received the call from the stranger, knowing that her children were in distress.She emphasized that this was not an honest mistake or a slip-up. There were many ways the driver could have handled the situation better. Parents are demanding answers and video evidence to understand what exactly happened on the bus.

District's Response

The Douglas County School District released a statement expressing their concern. They are in contact with the families of the 40 students who were dropped off at a different area. The safety of students is always their top priority, and they will continue to work with the Castle Rock Police Department on this matter. The bus driver is currently on leave while an internal investigation is conducted.This incident has raised serious questions about the accountability of the transportation department. Parents are determined to get to the bottom of what happened and ensure that such an event never occurs again. It is a wake-up call for the school district to review and improve their bus safety procedures.