7-year-old boy living with autism found wandering Wilkinsburg streets after school
Mother uncertain why child was not put on school van; stranger finds him on the street
When Tomeka Lawhorn’s 7-year-old son living with autism didn’t come home from school, she knew something wasn’t right.
Allen White, a second-grader at Turner Elementary in Wilkinsburg, takes a school van to and from Turner provided by SD Transit.
On Wednesday, school dismissed early for the holiday. Lawhorn expects her son home within 20 minutes of the final bell, so when the van didn’t arrive, she started calling the school.
“Nobody answered. So I called SD Transit where a worker said they weren’t aware of the early dismissal,” said Lawhorn.
Thinking her son was still at the school then, she started driving toward the elementary. All this time, her son was wandering the streets.
Allen said he went to Dollar General, then tried to find a way home but got lost.
“Then I went up to a kid and he told his mom I was lost,” said Allen.
That mother took Allen into her home and called Lawhorn. The 7-year-old only recently memorized his mom’s cellphone number, so he was able to give that number to the parent who found him.
“I just thank God that she was there, the right person,” said Lawhorn.
But now she needs answers. “I just want to know what happened after school. Who is watching him after school from when the bell rings? Somebody should be there to put him on or make sure he is put on the van. Where is the gap?”
The district provided the following response from Richard Liberto, the director of finance and operation:
“Based upon our initial investigation and after talking with various staff the following is a summary of what we know thus far.
"According to the elementary school principal, there was a gray S&D transit van parked across the street where they normally park. The teacher walked the student to the corner of the driveway and watched as he crossed the road to the van. When all students dispersed the staff did not notice any student left behind.
"After dismissal the principal drove around to make sure all of the students dispersed properly and were not loitering on the streets. At this time she saw no students walking the street nor did the security guard who was standing in the front of the building.
"According to the principal she also confirmed that she was at the building until 2:20. Dismissal was at 1:40.
"There seems to be conflicting stories however, we plan to investigate further on Monday when all staff reports to work along with further questioning with the bus company.”