Bus Driver Quits Mid-Route While Transporting Plainfield Students

PLAINFIELD, IL — Septran, the company that provides transportation for District 202 students who have special needs, confirmed Thursday that one of its drivers quit mid-route while transporting students on Wednesday. Edward Flavin, spokesman for Septran, said the driver "radioed in and announced his resignation to occur at the conclusion of all his afternoon routes."

The driver did not complete his Wednesday afternoon routes, according to Flavin, and is no longer employed by the company.

When asked by Patch how transportation was arranged for students after the driver's departure, Septran did not respond. Septran also did not say where the incident occurred.

On Thursday, a reader who identified himself as Patrick McCarty used Patch's QuickPost feature to claim "top management" communicated with the bus driver "in such an inappropriate fashion that students are frightened, some report feeling kidnapped, a call is made to police, and the driver attacked by the manager quits — all for the kids to hear. The students (heard) the whole thing."

It was unclear whether the incident happened within the jurisdiction of the Plainfield Police Department or the Joliet Police Department, though Plainfield police said they had no record of receiving a call regarding the incident.

District 202 Director of Community Relations Tom Hernandez said the district is looking into the incident with Septran.

"We are always concerned with the safety of our students," Hernandez said.