A San Tan Valley kindergartner from Ranch Elementary School was dropped off at the wrong bus stop on her second day of school.
A woman spotted the 5-year-old wandering in a neighborhood. With some guidance from the girl, she was able to safely drive her home.
The mom, who only wants to be identified by her first name, Cheryl, says it was a frantic moment.
"Paityn was so nervous and excited to start school and then that happened the second day," Cheryl said.
Cheryl's oldest teenage daughter was waiting at the bus stop for her little sister but she never came off the bus.
"What do you mean Paityn's not on the bus?" Cheryl said. "I immediately called the school and asked where she was."
At the time he school did not know what went wrong and they sent out searchers to their neighborhood.
"I thought, oh my gosh, what if someone picked her up that didn't have good intentions?" said Cheryl.
After 30 minutes a car pulled into her driveway.
"A lady knocks on my door with a little boy. and there's Paityn," said Cheryl. "She was beat red, crying, sweating, scared to death."
Cheryl tells ABC15 Paityn was told by the bus driver to get off too soon.
"The little boy had seen her in the street and got his mom," said Cheryl. "And Paityn, after a few minutes, was able to guide her to our house."
J.O. Combs Unified School District responded to ABC15 via email, saying in part, "a kindergarten student did not exit at the designated bus stop" and "all drivers received a refresher training on kindergarten bus rider procedures."
The statement made Cheryl hopeful other families won't have this terrifying situation happen to them.
"I was just so thankful that that lady had good intentions, had children, and had the heart to bring her home," said Cheryl.
