Photo: Cavan Images / Krista Taylor / Cavan / Getty Images
A substitute bus driver in Colorado has been fired after dropping off a group of elementary school students on the side of the road in 30-degree weather. The Douglas County School District said that the driver "stopped just short of the usual location, leading to some confusion. At that time, the remaining 40 students on the bus all exited, with many getting off at the wrong bus stop."
While parents were happy that the driver had been fired, they did not believe the statement issued by school officials tells the whole story about what happened.
Ashley Stark told KDVR that her daughter said the bus driver skipped numerous stops and then threatened the children.
"He proceeded to tell them that he was an Army veteran and that he was bigger, stronger, tougher, braver than all the children. If they didn't be quiet, then there would be consequences," Stark said.
Stark's daughter, Caitlyn Zavadil, told the news station she felt like the students were being kidnapped, noting that the driver also talked about his guns.
"He was threatening us, saying that he used to be in the army and that he had guns. And that if we do anything wrong, there'll be consequences," Zavadil said.
"I was very nervous. I felt like I was getting kidnapped. When he was skipping our stops. I just didn't think I was going to make it home that night."
As the students flooded off the bus onto the street, several bystanders came over to help. A stranger approached Caitlyn and her younger sister and offered them a ride home. The stranger called their mother to let her know her daughters were safe.
"I was absolutely petrified, and for a stranger to call me and tell me that she had my children in the car, and they were crying and screaming, and bright red and frozen," Stark told KUSA.
The Castle Rock Police Department is investigating the incident and reviewing the surveillance camera footage from the bus.