Mother demands justice after special needs children abandoned at bus stop
A mother in Point Marion is demanding action after her two young children were left alone at a bus stop. Katrina Bowens’ 7-year-old son with special needs and his 6-year-old sister were dropped off without supervision. The incident has raised fresh concerns about student safety in the Albert Gallatin Area School District. The children were left at the stop despite the district’s policy requiring drivers to loop back if no parent is present. Instead of following protocol, the driver left them unattended. A neighbour spotted the children walking near the roadway and called Bowens in panic.
This is not the first safety failure involving the district and its bus company. In December 2024, a 5-year-old was forgotten on a school bus for roughly 90 minutes after the driver failed to check all seats. Police are now investigating the latest incident, which Bowens describes as another major breakdown in student protection. KDKA contacted Superintendent Christopher Pegg for comment, but he referred them to the transportation director. No response was received by Thursday. Bowens insists the driver should face consequences for ignoring safety rules and endangering her children.
The district’s policy clearly states that children must never be left at unsupervised stops. Bowens’ children were put at risk when the driver failed to follow this rule. Authorities and school officials are now under pressure to address repeated safety lapses.
