- A substitute bus driver is being accused of leaving more than three dozen students at the wrong bus stop in Colorado on Nov. 18 amid freezing temperatures
- Students claimed the bus driver skipped multiple stops on the route before stopping and demanding all 40 children exit the bus
- Irving Johnson claimed it was his first time driving the route and had navigation issues due to the tablet he was using for directions
A Colorado school bus driver is speaking out after dropping off dozens of children at the wrong spot amid freezing temperatures, leaving parents furious.
Irving Johnson told ABC affiliate KMGH-TV he “could have done better” after leaving 40 students on the side of the road in Castle Rock on Monday, Nov. 18 while covering what he said was an unfamiliar route.
The substitute driver has been accused of driving around town without dropping off the students from Clear Sky Elementary School at their proper stops, and eventually forcing the kids off the bus while miles away from their homes and school, according to NBC affiliate KUSA and FOX affiliate KDVR.
But Johnson is pushing back against the students’ and parents’ claims. “I said nothing to them,” he told KMGH-TV. “I opened the door, and they knew that this was at least close to where they were supposed to get off, and they just were getting off.”
The incident began back at school, according to students and parents. Caitlyn Zavadil, a 10-year-old student, told KUSA that the first problem arose when Irving “wouldn’t let us leave the school until we stopped talking,” causing them to leave late.
Johnson told KMGH-TV that the kids were misbehaving when they got on the bus. He also claimed to have told the children, “You know, I can be as tough as I need to be to get you to behave in the bus.”
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After getting on the road, Caitlyn claimed Irving began skipping students’ stops. “We felt like when he was driving and missing our stops, like we were getting kidnapped,” Caitlyn said.
Johnson suggested that was because it was his first time driving the route, and “was dependent upon the tablet to be clear on where I would go.” Driving at dusk, he added, complicated the situation.
Eventually, the kids were dropped off by the intersection of East Wolfensberger Road and Auburn Drive, according to KUSA. It was just after 5 p.m. local time, so it was already dark when they came to a stop.
Johnson told KMGH-TV he stopped there because he “saw the parents on the side of the road,” but was surprised when he claims all 40 students got up to file off.
“It was bizarre for me, and I think I was really stunned by it and I didn’t know what to do,” he explained. “This has never happened before. I’ve never, ever, had kids pile out of the bus and get off at a stop.”
According to Caitlyn, however, Johnson told the students to “get off my bus,” which she said caused the kids to start “stressing” and “crying.” She and her sister were later taken home by a mom whose daughter was also dropped off at the stop.
“To have a stranger bring my children home was one of the scariest things,” Caitlyn’s mom Ashley Stark told KDVR. Johnson denied this in an Interview with KMGH-TV, saying “that’s not correct.”
The Douglas County School District and Castle Rock Police Department are investigating the incident, Rich Cosgrove, chief operations officer for the school district, said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.
“I want to sincerely express my deepest apologies for the unsettling experience your children endured on Monday afternoon,” Cosgrove said. “Through our investigation, we have gained a better understanding of what occurred and feel it is important to share the details we can confirm with you.”
He said the school district informed the families on the impacted bus route that the driver involved in the incident “is no longer employed” by them.
“Regrettably, the driver did not follow protocol when this happened,” Cosgrove said. “The driver should have immediately notified DCSD transportation dispatch.”
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