Key Takeaways
- Two unaccompanied minors, Brielle and Livy Owen, were left stranded in South Auckland after a seven-hour bus journey
- The girls were supposed to be dropped off near Sky City in central Auckland but were instead given their luggage in Manukau
- The bus driver allegedly told the girls they were in Auckland, despite being in a different part of the city
- The girls’ mother, Erin Alberino, was furious and claimed InterCity didn’t initially acknowledge the mistake
- InterCity’s parent company, Entrada, has apologized and is investigating the incident to strengthen their processes
Introduction to the Incident
The incident involving two unaccompanied minors, Brielle and Livy Owen, has raised concerns about the safety and reliability of bus services in New Zealand. The girls were left stranded in South Auckland after a seven-hour bus journey that was supposed to end near Sky City in Auckland City. Their mother, Erin Alberino, received a call from a stranger who informed her that her daughters were at the bus stop in Manukau, sparking a frantic search to locate them. The girls were eventually found safe with their father, but the incident has left their mother shaken and questioning the competence of the bus company, InterCity.
The Bus Journey and the Mistake
The girls were supposed to exit the bus near Sky City in Auckland City, but instead, they were given their luggage in the south of the city. According to their mother, the bus driver told the girls they were in Auckland, and when they asked if it was their stop, he replied, "Auckland, yep, which one’s your bags?" The girls, unaware of their surroundings, took their luggage and got off the bus, only to find themselves lost and alone in an unfamiliar area. The driver’s actions have been questioned, and it is unclear why he did not ensure the girls were at the correct stop before letting them off.
The Mother’s Reaction and InterCity’s Response
Erin Alberino was "furious" when she found out what had happened to her daughters. She claimed that InterCity did not initially acknowledge the mistake, which added to her frustration and worry. The girls had no idea where they were, and their phones were flat, leaving them with no way to contact their mother or seek help. Alberino has stated that she won’t be sending her daughters on a bus to Auckland again, citing concerns for their safety. InterCity’s parent company, Entrada, has since apologized for the incident and is investigating what went wrong. A spokesperson for the company stated that the safety of unaccompanied minors is of top priority and that they are working to understand what occurred.
Investigation and Aftermath
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and Entrada has promised to take any necessary steps to strengthen their processes once the review is complete. This includes reviewing their procedures for handling unaccompanied minors and ensuring that drivers are aware of their responsibilities when it comes to dropping off children. The incident has highlighted the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of children when they are traveling alone, and bus companies must take steps to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. The outcome of the investigation will be closely watched, and it is hoped that changes will be made to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
Conclusion and Future Implications
The incident involving Brielle and Livy Owen has raised important questions about the safety and reliability of bus services in New Zealand. The fact that two unaccompanied minors were left stranded in an unfamiliar area due to a mistake by the bus driver is unacceptable. While InterCity’s parent company has apologized and is investigating the incident, more needs to be done to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future. The safety of children must be the top priority, and bus companies must take steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring. The outcome of the investigation will be closely watched, and it is hoped that changes will be made to prevent similar incidents from occurring.