A Connecticut mother is demanding an apology and an investigation after a school bus driver mistakenly took her autistic son over 40 miles in the wrong direction during the first week of school. This incident has left Somers McCray, the mother, in a state of confusion and anxiety, as she was unable to locate her son when he was expected to return home.
McCray shared her experience during an interview with Fox & Friends First on Thursday, describing her growing worry as the expected return time of her son did not materialize. She immediately called the bus company, First Student, in a bid to get information on her son’s whereabouts. However, the communication process was marked by confusion and delays, as the company personnel required her to provide her phone number for a callback, despite the presence of a GPS tracking system on the vehicle.
It was only after using her son’s iPhone location data that McCray managed to find him, confirming that he had been taken over 4,000 feet away from her home, with the vehicle ending up in Danbury. This location was more than 40 miles away, which led to a dramatic and emotional resolution when the mother and the bus met at a local 7-Eleven to confirm the situation.
First Student issued an apology for the error, blaming it on the challenges faced by many transportation providers, including the issue of timely bus deliveries and driver availabilities. In response to the incident, the Consolidated School District of New Britain has decided to provide alternative transportation for McCray’s son that is not associated with First Student, indicating that the situation had a significant impact on the school district’s transportation service.
McCray, however, is not satisfied with the explanation provided by First Student. She is calling for a full investigation to uncover the systemic issues and miscommunication that led to the error, particularly for her autistic son, who might have faced additional challenges due to the mistake.
The situation has raised serious concerns about the reliability of school transportation systems in the state, with the incident highlighting the potential risks that can be associated with such errors. While first Student has committed to taking corrective action to stabilize their operations, the incident has left the community in a state of unrest and heightened scrutiny over the service provided by the transportation company.