Investigation Underway After School Bus Incident in Wahrenholz

Wahrenholz - An unusual police response was triggered by an incident involving a school bus filled with students. At approximately 4:25 PM, a 15-year-old girl contacted the Wesendorf police, reporting that she was trapped inside a school bus and unable to exit.

The bus was stationed at a stop on Betzhorner Straße, prompting police officers to respond promptly. Upon arrival, they discovered a bus carrying more than 50 students, as some parents had already begun to pick up their children before the police arrived. The bus, which was returning from IGS Sassenburg and heading towards Wesendorf, had reached Wahrenholz when the request to stop was made, yet no students disembarked.

In a concerning turn of events, the bus driver exited the vehicle for several minutes and subsequently locked the doors, preventing the students from leaving. This troubling scenario repeated itself at the next bus stop, where the driver again failed to open the doors despite the stop request being activated, causing further delays as the students remained inside.

As a result, several students resorted to calling their parents, leading to the formation of carpool arrangements to ensure all students returned home safely. Fortunately, no medical assistance was required in this incident.

In light of these events, a criminal investigation has been initiated against the 55-year-old bus driver, who is now prohibited from transporting students for the remainder of the day. The transportation company has been notified regarding the situation.

This incident raises significant concerns about student safety and the responsibilities of transportation providers in ensuring the well-being of minors during transit.