Mother: 5-year-old, 7-year-old dropped off at wrong bus stop

Their mother, Dalan Diallo, waited for her sons at the bus stop on Castle Hill and Randall avenues, but the boys were never dropped off.

Marissa Santorelli

Sep 14, 2024, 2:47 AM

Updated 98 days ago

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Yusuf and Mohamad Barrie, 5 years old and 7 years old, took the school bus for the first time ever on Sept. 10.
Their mother, Dalan Diallo, waited for her sons at the bus stop on Castle Hill and Randall avenues, but the boys were never dropped off.
"The school had no idea where they were, the school bus company had no idea where they were. So where are my kids? That's a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old," Diallo said.
The brothers were dropped off 19 blocks away at the wrong bus stop, with no adult supervision.
The boys' older sister stayed late at school that day, missing her bus. She waited for the BX22 bus, coincidently where the boys were mistakenly dropped off.
"If I didn't see her, I would have been scared," said Yusuf.
The boys were found safe and not injured.
But Dalan Diallo was not satisfied, and called Pioneer Bus Company demanding answers.
"They say it is OK for a child to request to get off at the bus stop, the driver can let them out. If the driver refuses, they are going against their right," said Diallo.
The young brothers say they are too afraid to ride the bus again.
"If we go on the bus again, it will leave us," said 5-year-old Mohamad.
"I don't want to get lost again," said 7-year-old Yusuf.
News 12 reached out to both Pioneer Bus Company and the Department of Education for statements, and is still waiting for a response.