Stranger brings 6-year-old home after being dropped off early and found walking near busy road

CLEVELAND, Ohio. (WOIO/Gray News) - A stranger in Ohio brought a 6-year-old home after the girl was dropped off early and found walking near a busy road.

Mari Richardson was getting ready to pick up her daughter at the bus stop when the girl arrived home in a stranger’s car more than 20 minutes before she was supposed to arrive.

“My daughter could have never made it home. If it wasn’t for this lady. And I’m just so thankful for her,” Richardson said.

Tiyonna Betts saw the girl crying and walking by herself on busy road.

“I asked her does she know where she was going? She said no, she was lost. The bus driver just dropped her off,” Betts said.

Richardson said she is grateful a kind woman brought her daughter home.

“My daughter was scared. She was scared. She’s only 6 years old. And I’m just so thankful that she does know landmarks that she was able to direct her home,” Richardson said.

“God led me to that baby, and I’m just overjoyed that I was used to be a blessing,” Betts said.

Rightway Transportation told 19 News that the driver dropped the girl off nearly 40 minutes early with no parent waiting, which violates company policy.

Richardson said she could no longer trust the school bus to transport her daughter and is looking for other ways to get her daughter to school.

“I don’t feel like enough has been done. I did not, I don’t feel like this matter is taken, is being taken as serious as it should. Because my daughter could have never made it home. My last time seeing her literally could have been Friday morning,” Richardson said.

Richardson filed a police report and wants to press charges.

Rightway Transportation told 19 News that the driver had been disciplined and taken off the route.