Fourth-grader left alone on Isle of Wight school bus after falling asleep

Published 7:22 pm Friday, July 22, 2022

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

An Isle of Wight County fourth-grader was left on a school bus on July 11 for roughly three hours.

According to acting Superintendent Dr. Christopher Coleman, the student had fallen asleep on her way to Windsor Elementary. She woke up to find herself at Westside Elementary, where the bus was parked after dropping students off.

The student was able to exit the bus and make her way to Westside’s entrance, where school staff released her to her parents in good condition.

“It is standard procedure for drivers to walk and check the bus at the school when they unload and again when they park,” Coleman said in a July 12 letter to parents. “We are investigating the situation and will be treating this as a personnel matter.”

“We have immediately started reviewing and reinforcing our procedures with all of our drivers to ensure this situation does not happen again,” he added.

The Smithfield Times was unable to reach the student’s parents for comments by press deadline.