Family Outraged After Oxnard School Bus Drops Student Off, Leaves Her Wandering Streets Alone

OXNARD (CBSLA.com) —  Salvador Palomo said his 9-year-old girl granddaughter came to America a month ago and was excited to learn English.

But all that changed Aug. 18 after Palomo said a school bus dropped the fifth-grader off following her first day of school at McKinna Elementary, which is 3 miles from home.

"She was walking more than hour and a half, running, crying to us for help." Palomo said. "I have no words to describe. Still, I am in shock."

He claimed the school never told him or the girl's mother that his granddaughter would be dropped off at a location, different from the spot where she was picked up in the morning.

While her family was waiting to retrieve her on Cabrillo Way, she was dropped off on Gallatin Place around the corner.

"She don't see anybody - grandpa, mother and brother. And then she don't want to leave the bus," Palomo pointed out and claimed the driver insisted that his granddaughter get off the bus.

She wandered the streets until a good Samaritan found her, got her home address from her backpack and brought her home.

To make sure the student got home, the school principal rode the bus with her on Friday.

Monday was the first day the girl rode the bus again by herself.

The family is demanding answers as to what caused the confusion.

The superintendent of the Oxnard Elementary School District told CBS2/KCAL9's Kristine Lazar on the phone that he is disturbed by what happened and maintained that the girl wandered the streets for only 45 minutes.

He said an aide at the school tried to help the student but she walked away.

Nevertheless, the superintendent said he will review the district's protocol to prevent future incidents such as this.