School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

3-year-old boards school bus with cousin

The North Carolina girl gets on a bus she is not assigned to with her cousin. Since no parents are present, the bus driver lets the girl board so she can get her to a safe place and contacts the police.

December 10, 2015
1 min to read


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.

More Safety

Graphic featuring FMCSA Chief Safety Officer Steve Dowling alongside the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration logo and U.S. Department of Transportation seal.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsAugust 20, 2026

FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know

Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.

Read More →
Graphic reading “School Zone Speed Programs Work” beside a school zone speed limit 20 sign with flashing warning lights, featuring Verra Mobility and School Bus Fleet logos.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseAugust 20, 2026

New Study Finds School Zone Speed Safety Cameras Cut Speeding Violations 97%

A Florida university's research demonstrates that Verra Mobility's automated enforcement changes driver behavior and significantly improves school zone safety.

Read More →
Graphic promoting the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2026 National Roadway Safety Strategy, featuring the report cover and the text “A New Roadmap for Roadway Safety.”
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsAugust 20, 2026

What Changed in DOT’s New National Roadway Safety Strategy?

The federal agency's new plan shifts its focus to safer people, roads and vehicles, with a new three-pronged approach instead of five. One outlined action even addresses a key industry concern around illegal school bus passing.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Waymo’s fully autonomous legacy Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan at a crosswalk with a red overlay and text reading "Are Autonomous Vehicles Ready to Safely Navigate School Bus Stops?"
Safetyby Elora HaynesAugust 11, 2026

Are Autonomous Vehicles Ready to Safely Navigate School Bus Stops?

NHTSA is accelerating autonomous vehicle deployment through new safety standards and commercial approvals. See why school transportation leaders are watching.

Read More →
Graphic promoting a school bus safety public service announcement featuring NFL Hall of Famer Lomas Brown. The graphic shows Brown speaking in front of a stopped school bus with students crossing in a video displayed on a laptop screen, alongside the headline, "Lomas Brown Says: 'No Rushing Around the School Bus,'" and the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsAugust 10, 2026

NFL Star Lomas Brown Kicks Off New Illegal School Bus Passing PSA

Just in time for the back-to-school season, the former Detroit Lions offensive tackle took time to record a video encouraging motorists to slow down around school buses.

Read More →
Graphic titled "NSC Award Winners" featuring two group photos of National Safety Council award recipients. One group holds an "Our Driving Concern Employer Traffic Safety Award" banner, while the other poses with a recognition plaque at the 2026 Texas Traffic Safety Conference.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettAugust 4, 2026

How Two Texas Districts Built Award-Winning Safety Programs

Learn how Prosper ISD and Rockwall ISD earned National Safety Council honors through hands-on training, safety culture, and strategies that reduced transportation incidents.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."
Safetyby Elora HaynesJuly 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Read More →
Graphic for a School Bus Fleet news story featuring the NASDPTS logo, a speaker presenting with a microphone, and the headline, "38.4 Million Stop-Arm Violations," highlighting annual illegal school bus passing estimates.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettJuly 21, 2026

2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing

New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.

Read More →
Graphic illustrating a fatal school bus incident in New York, featuring a close-up view of the front of a yellow school bus with a cracked-glass overlay and the headline, "7-Year-Old Fatally Struck in New York," dated July 9, 2026, alongside the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsJuly 9, 2026

Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York

A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
School buses at NSTA's SBDISC Roadeo with text reading "School Bus Drivers Put Their Skills to the Test."
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsJune 30, 2026

NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners

Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.

Read More →