School Bus Driver Skips Stop, Leaves Dozen Students Stranded in Ipswich
An official investigation has been launched after a school bus driver failed to stop for waiting students during a morning school run in Ipswich, leaving more than a dozen teenagers stranded on the side of the road. The shocking incident, which occurred at approximately 7am in Redbank Plains, has sparked outrage among parents and authorities alike.
Shocking Video Captures the Moment
Disturbing video footage taken onboard the bus shows the driver appearing to wave as the vehicle powers past the designated stop. Students already on board can be heard hooting and hollering in disbelief as their peers are left behind. Ema, whose 12-year-old daughter Tiana was one of the students stranded, expressed her fury upon seeing the video.
"When that was sent to me, yeah, I was fuming, to be honest," Ema said. The Ipswich State High School student, Tiana, described her confusion and fear, stating, "I didn't know if there was another bus coming that goes to my school. I didn't know the bus timetables."
Students Left to Fend for Themselves
Fortunately, Tiana had a phone and was able to call for assistance. However, other students were not as lucky, with some having to walk home or wait for hours for another bus to arrive. Ema voiced serious concerns about student safety, asking, "What if something does happen? And what if you don't get to them in time?"
The incident involved bus number 5269, a dedicated student service that stops at multiple schools including Redbank Plains, Ipswich Central, and Silkstone State School. Most of the stranded students were headed to Ipswich State High School, which is located 24 kilometers away—a half-hour drive from where they were left.
Bus at Capacity, Communication Failure
High schooler Peter, who was already on the bus when it failed to stop, described the scene: "I was pretty sad. I couldn't do anything. I was just all the way at the back. I was like, oh, wow." When asked if the bus was full, Peter confirmed, "It was full. Yeah, like... You've got a real squish up in there. Some kids sit in each other in there."
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has commenced an investigation in partnership with the bus operator, Bus Queensland. According to TMR, the 5269 bus had reached capacity, and a second bus was dispatched to pick up the remaining students. However, this critical information was clearly not communicated to the young students waiting at the stop.
Policy Violation and Parental Concerns
Parents have expressed frustration that this information was not relayed to the waiting students, emphasizing the need for better communication protocols. Queensland operates under a "no child left behind" policy—while not legally binding, it represents an agreed understanding that children should not be left stranded at bus stops.
The Department of Education stated that the school has communicated with the bus company to prevent similar incidents in the future. Despite attempts to contact Bus Queensland for comment, no response has been received at this time.
This incident highlights significant gaps in student transportation safety and communication, raising urgent questions about accountability and the implementation of protective policies for schoolchildren in Queensland.
