Surfside Buslines denies leaving girl at Gold Coast bus stop

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This was published 8 years ago

Surfside Buslines denies leaving girl at Gold Coast bus stop

By Kim Stephens
Updated

The bus company accused of leaving a girl at a Gold Coast bus stop last week claims its internal investigation does not corroborate the version of events the girl's father gave to media.

A spokesman for Surfside Buslines said the company had made several unsuccessful attempts to contact Dean Bleakley, who has claimed his daughter Lucinda, 12, was left stranded at a bus stop when her Go Card failed to work and the bus driver would not permit her to board.

He said a detailed review of the company's operating systems, including CCTV footage, timetables and card reader information, as well as an interview with the bus driver, found the claims Mr Bleakley and his daughter made were not supported.

The spokesman said attempts to contact Mr Bleakley to further investigate had so far been unsuccessful.

Queensland's Go Card will undergo an overhaul. Eventually.

Queensland's Go Card will undergo an overhaul. Eventually. Credit: Paul Harris

"Surfside's General Manager has attempted to contact the father of the student a number of times to discuss the findings of the investigation, as the information obtained does not support the events reported in the media," he said in a statement.

"Surfside would like to speak with the father to ensure there is no additional information that may assist with our investigation."

Lucinda Bleakley told News Corporation she attempted to board the 713 southbound bus in Labrador about 8am Friday but was left beside the road when her Go Card failed to scan.

Queensland Transport Minister Jackie Trad said she was "outraged" by the allegations, saying had the driver done what had been claimed, they had contravened the state's No Child Left Behind policy, implemented following the abduction and murder of Sunshine Coast schoolboy Daniel Morcombe.

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The Surfside Buslines spokesman said any driver found to have left a child behind would most likely be sacked.

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