A three-year-old girl is safe at home with her family after being left alone on a school bus in freezing conditions at a snowy depot. The incident left her frightened and confused.
Talia Anderson, the girl’s mother, recounted her daughter Aziyah’s reaction, saying, “She was just saying, ‘Mommy, I was left on the bus. I was left on the bus.’”
Anderson explained that the ordeal began when a bus picked up Aziyah around midday to attend preschool at Richton Square Elementary in Richton Park, Illinois. Hours later, the school called Anderson, asking why Aziyah had not arrived.
“At that moment, I just wanted to know if she was OK—was she alive? I needed answers,” Anderson said.
It was later revealed that Aziyah had fallen asleep during the ride and was unknowingly transported back to the bus depot in Country Club Hills, where she remained unnoticed. The school superintendent eventually informed Anderson that her daughter had been found.
Expressing her frustration, Anderson said, “How can you leave a three-year-old on the bus? I’m entrusting her safety to you.”
Matteson School District 162 issued a statement acknowledging the incident and confirming that the bus driver involved would no longer provide services for the district due to the failure to follow safety policies and procedures.
Since the incident, Anderson has been focused on Aziyah’s recovery, noting that her daughter has been unusually thirsty. “She’s been really thirsty ever since the situation, so I’ve just been giving her water and apple juice, trying to keep her hydrated,” Anderson said.
The incident has raised concerns about the oversight and safety measures in place to protect young children during school transportation.