Parents outraged after 7-year-old left behind on school bus

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Parents of a Garland 7-year old are furious after their daughter was driven to school by her bus driver — in his personal car.

Garland ISD says all the children on the bus were dropped off except for the 7-year-old from Walnut Glen Academy because she fell asleep on the bus. And when the bus returned to the bus barn, the driver decided to take her back to school himself.

Zermekia Harris and William Northcutt are disturbed by how their 7-year-old daughter got to school last Thursday.

"It makes me sick to my stomach. I still have a knot in my throat,” Harris said.

The girl told her parents that she fell asleep on the bus. And when she woke up, the bus was leaving school with only her and the driver. She told her parents she yelled.

Garland ISD says the driver didn’t notice she was on the bus until he drove back to the bus barn. He then took her back to school in his personal car.

"No one knows what took place during that traveling time,” said Northcutt. “There was no camera to record any event that could have taken place while they were traveling back to the school."

Harris and Northcutt learned about the incident from their daughter — not someone from the district. They've since talked to the bus driver, his supervisor and the superintendent.

A district spokesperson says the issue has been addressed but cannot say whether specific action has been taken against the driver, as it is a personnel issue.

The girl’s parents cannot get past the fact that the driver was alone with their daughter without their knowledge and without supervision. They say their child is now suffering.

"She'll wake up screaming or she'll jump up and come and get in my bed,” Harris said. “No 7-year-old should have to have these thoughts. Ever."

The parents say the district showed them video surveillance from the bus that confirms their daughter's story. FOX 4 has not been able to view that video to confirm that. They also filed a police report and have asked a detective to do an official interview with their daughter to make sure nothing else happened while the two were alone together.