Special Needs Child Left On Bainbridge Island School Bus

A bus driver for the Bainbridge Island School District is on paid leave after a 4-year-old special needs student was left unattended on a school bus for hours Thursday, reported KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.

Sarah Rowe's daughter Ava suffers from speech apraxia and couldn't talk loudly enough to let anyone know she needed help.

"She was crying on the bus. (She) said 'they left me alone and I was waiting and waiting and waiting,' said Rowe.

Bryanna Deits, who runs a home for adults with special needs, said the incident left her speechless.

"I don't know how someone could forget. Just being in that position you should remember who's on your bus," said Deits.

When the bus driver arrived at Ordway Elementary, two of the students on the bus got off but Ava, who was in a car seat would have needed help to get up and she was unable to speak.

The child was left on the bus for more than two hours.

School Superintendant Faith Chapel acknowledged the driver continued on to the bus barn, where she ate her lunch on the bus, unaware that the girl was in a car seat a few feet away.

"This is not consistent with the procedures that we have," said Chapel. (The bus driver) is a person who has been very dedicated to the students and is extremely distraught."

Chapel said the bus driver, who has been an employee of the school district for 14 years, is remorseful.

"We demand this bus driver be fired. This was more than gross negligence. This was child abuse if you ask me," said Rowe.

The school district is investigating the incident.