Friday, March 29, 2024
NewsScottish NewsFive-year-old dumped by bus driver to walk home alone

Five-year-old dumped by bus driver to walk home alone

Google street view of busy Halbeath Road

A BUNGLING bus driver is facing calls to be sacked after dropping off a five-year-old schoolboy on a busy main road.  

Noah Jones, from Dunfermline, was forced to walk 800 meters to safety after boarding the wrong school bus last Wednesday.

He had to cross busy Halbeath Road which comes straight off the motorway and leads into the centre of the town.

Now his furious parents are calling for the bus driver responsible to be sacked.

Stepdad Christopher Tindall, 27, said that a frantic search began when only Noah’s eight-year-old sister got off the bus.

He said: “It was sheer panic. Anything could have happened . Their mum was in tears and sick with worry.

“I called the school straight away and they called the bus depot but it never got back to them until five minutes after Noah got home.”

Mr Tindall carried out an hour-long search of the neighbourhood but there was no sign of his son.

Five minutes after he returned home and “absolutely terrified” Noah appeared at the door.

Mr Tindall said: “Noah was in tears and could barely speak when he got in. He was soaked because of the rain and absolutely hysterical.

“It’s a good thing he knew how to get home after he was dropped off. He walked about 600 metres and had to cross Halbeath Road.

“I don’t know anybody who would let their five-year-old cross that alone – it’s a busy road and people speed down it.”

Mr Tindall contacted bus company Rennies and was told the driver “thought he was doing the right thing”.

He added: “The manager apologised but sorry wouldn’t have mattered if my son had been killed or abducted.”

A spokeswoman for Rennies said: “We are aware of this incident and our operations manager has been in direct correspondence with the boy’s family.

“We are currently interviewing the driver involved, following our internal disciplinary procedures as required.”

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