3-year-old boards school bus with cousin

BELMONT, N.C. — A 3-year-old boarded a school bus she was not assigned to with her cousin on Wednesday morning, Gaston County Schools told WBTV.

The 3-year-old was visiting her cousin’s home and went to the bus stop with her cousin, police told WSOCTV. The cousin reportedly told the bus driver that the 3-year-old was a new student, according to WBTV.

No parents were present when the children boarded the bus, school officials told WBTV, and the bus driver allowed the child to get on the bus because they didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone.  

Todd Hagan, a spokesman for Gaston County Schools, told WSOCTV that the bus driver called the school when the 3-year-old got on the bus. It was decided that the driver should continue on the designated route. The bus driver also called police, who were waiting when the bus stopped at Belmont Central Elementary School, WSOCTV reports.

School officials said that the bus driver did the right thing by getting the child to a safe place where law enforcement could be contacted, according to WBTV. Police are investigating the incident, and have not said whether any charges will be filed.