“The children were panicking”: Investigation launched into school minibus incident

Parents in Lithuania raised questions about school transport safety after a woman described an incident involving a minibus carrying children in Anykščiai district.

“

The children were panicking, some were crying from fear, and there was no adult nearby who could calm them.

In a Facebook group, she alleged that the vehicle left the road on Sept. 2 and that the driver walked away, leaving the children to get out on their own in a wooded area. She said some children panicked and cried, while parents learned about the incident from their children rather than the school.

Kristina Dilienė, principal of Svėdasai Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas Gymnasium, said no traffic accident had taken place. She said police had not recorded an accident, no child had been injured and the bus had not been damaged.

“

There was no traffic accident at all, it was not even recorded by police, no child was injured, and the bus was not damaged.

Dilienė said the driver later resumed the scheduled route and continued transporting other children. Asked whether students had been left without supervision, she said the school was conducting an official internal inquiry and could not comment further while it continued.

“

We are currently working in a commission because an official inquiry is being conducted. We are clarifying these details.