DANVERS — A Great Oak School first-grader who's new to Danvers got off at the wrong bus stop yesterday but was home safe shortly after being reported missing, police and school officials said.
The report of a missing 6-year-old girl quickly mobilized police, who began searching for her along the bus route.
Yesterday was the first day of school in Danvers with an elementary early release day dismissal time of 1:15 p.m.
The girl, who is new in town and lives at the Avalon Bay apartment complex on Kirkbride Drive, got off at the wrong stop, according to police Capt. Edmund Plamowski.
"When she didn't get off the bus, the family called here and might have called the school, as well," Plamowski said. "There is more than one bus stop at the complex. She got off at the wrong stop."
Police would not disclose the identity of the family involved.
Kirkbride Drive is at the large Avalon Danvers apartment complex on the grounds of the former Danvers State Hospital. There are more than 450 units at the apartment complex.
Police Sgt. Paul Stone and Patrolmen Richard Barthelmess and Derek Colella checked every stop the bus made prior to the girl's scheduled stop.
Plamowski said the family found the girl and notified police.
"We went up and met with the family, and everything is fine," the captain said.
"There was confusion as the child got off," Danvers Superintendent Lisa Dana said. "Everything is fine. It shouldn't be a common occurrence, but occasionally there is confusion."
Dana and Plamowski said the school followed proper procedure after school got out by making sure the girl got on the bus she was supposed to get on.
The bus is operated by First Student Bus Company.
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
