News

Forgotten preschooler found in school bus parked at driver's house

Officials are investigating after a Butler County preschooler who was missing for more than three hours was found on his school bus parked at the driver’s home.

Brandon Campbell, 3, was not harmed, and officials told Channel 11 the driver was fired.

The child's mother said the incident happened on Brandon’s second day at Head Start preschool and his second day riding the bus.

“I got a call at 11 o'clock saying they knew Brandon got on the bus, but they can't find him,” his mother, Alisha Chambers, said.

Police confirm the bus driver, the monitor on the bus and two monitors at the school did not verify that Brandon got off the bus.

Brandon was missing from 9:15 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Thursday, when police found him inside the bus, which was parked in the driveway of the bus driver's house.

“He was red-faced. He was crying. He hadn't eaten. He hugged me and wouldn't let go,” Chambers said.

Brandon is one of 16 children who ride the minibus. Chambers said her son sits in the first seat and all of the children wear seat belts.

“How do you miss a kid? There's another one that sits right next to him. (The other child) got off the bus,” Chamber said.

A day later, it looks as if the incident didn’t phase Brandon, but for his mother, it’s a different story and that’s why she’s speaking out.

“I don't want another mom or dad to go through what I did,” Chambers said.

She kept her son home on Friday, but said if he goes back to Head Start, she will walk him there, as the school is just four blocks away.

The director of the Head Start program said he and his staff are devastated by the incident. The entire staff met on Friday to talk about what happened, and he said they have very strict procedures and protocols in place to make sure this doesn't happen again.

He said, while he investigates, the three monitors have been suspended.