5-year-old girl put on wrong school bus home

Mom says her daughter ended up in another part of town

DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. – A local mom is relieved, but disappointed and upset at the Duval County school district Friday.

Debra Bruce told Channel 4 that her daughter went to school Wednesday, but didn't come home on the bus.

Instead, Bruce said her 5-year-old kindergartener ended up in another part of town.

"I'm sorry, but they didn't do a good job, because my daughter ended up all the way on the Westside," said Bruce.

Bruce said her 5-year-old daughter, Terrionna, somehow got on the wrong bus, got off across town on Stockton Street, and ended up at another parent's home.

The kindergartner just started at SP Livingston and now Bruce told Channel 4 she may not be going back to school. Bruce doesn't feel like she can trust the school to make sure her child is safe.

"I just feel like I don't have nothing to say right now, and I am kind of upset, then for somebody to tell me, 'Calm down, it's okay,' this ain't your baby, know what I'm saying?" Bruce said. "Ain't no telling who could have seen her. I'm tripping, felt like y'all should have made sure."

Superintendent Nikolai Vitti seems to agree. He told Channel 4 Friday night that he doesn't have details yet on what happened, but it's important to find out what happened, so he expects there will be an investigation.

"That's what we have to do, was someone responsible, didn't do what they were supposed to do, and that's what we have to do," said Vitti.

While the school district looks into things, their reminder is that a parent needs to make sure a problem comes to the attention of school leadership.

Bruce hasn't done that yet, but said she may to make sure this scare doesn't happen to someone else.

"I didn't want to talk to nobody to be honest," said Bruce. "I was mad, no telling what words would have came out of my mouth, because y'all supposed to be watching my baby, you know? Five years old, still a baby."


About the Author:

Kent Justice co-anchors News4Jax's 5 p.m., 10 and 11 p.m. newscasts weeknights and reports on government and politics. He also hosts "This Week in Jacksonville," Channel 4's hot topics and politics public affairs show each Sunday morning at 9 a.m.