PEA RIDGE — The bus was running late and a gray-haired man in a white van stopped in front of a driveway at 17683 Gann Ridge Road and offered a 12-year-old girl a ride. She declined.
He then offered a ride to children at the next bus stop. They, too, declined. But an observant adult noted the exchange and called 911, reporting the incident to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were immediately dispatched and were joined by Pea Ridge police looking for the white van.
A Pea Ridge school bus was delayed as it was stuck in the mud on Beaver Hollow Road, which had recently been undergoing road work, according to Randy Easterling, school transportation director. “It was muddy, sloppy red clay.”
Because of the proximity of the bus to a utliity pole and a high line, Easterling said the driver was concerned about trying to get the bus out of the position with the children on board. The district sent another bus to the site and pulled the first bus out, reloaded the 16 children back on the bus and completed the route, albeit late.
Doug Gay, public information officer for BCSO, said the reporting party stated that the male reported had “bad teeth, like a smoker.”
Easterling said whenever a bus can not complete its route, another bus will be sent. He said if parents have concerns, they should call the school.
News, Pages 1 on 09/15/2010