A Word Of Caution

To the Editor:

To the parents of school children in Newtown and Sandy Hook:

On October 19th, I was behind a bus on Narragansett Trail in Sandy Hook. There was one car behind me. The bus stopped, picked up two children, and got ready to go, deactivating the red warning lights. It then came to a very abrupt stop, and re-activated the red warning lights. At this point, I saw one small child run past my car, run behind the bus, and get on the bus. When I spoke to the driver about it later, she said she saw the car stop behind me, the doors open, and two children come out of the car, at which point she stopped the bus again, and allowed the children to board.

It is very fortunate for the children that the driver was following the proper procedures, and checking her mirrors thoroughly, saw the two children and stopped, thus preventing what could have been a very tragic accident.

So parents, please, for your children’s safety. If your child misses the bus, do not follow to the next stop and send your child into traffic, past other cars to catch the bus. Drive your child to school. The risk of an accident is too great.

Thank you

Catherine B. Michaud

Pootatuck Park, Sandy Hook                                      October 7, 2000