A bus driver was left dumbfounded as the doors opened and a 4-year-old little girl boarded his bus all by herself. Concerned, he talked to the child, who quickly told him what she needed most.
Harlan Jenifer, a driver for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia, stopped his bus at 3 am to let a passenger off. After the doors opened, a 4-year-old little girl in a purple raincoat and boots clambered aboard all alone. Surveillance video captured the unusual sight as she found a seat on the warm bus, then sat, swinging her tiny feet beneath her as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
“Got to be kidding me! At this time, at 3 o’clock in the morning,” Harlan said, recounting the incident in disbelief. “She’s a small little thing. It kind of just shocked me,” he added. Apparently, little girl, who he learned was named Annabelle, was thirsty. As Harlan called the police and other passengers comforted her, she repeated the same request over and over and over again.
“Got to be kidding me! At this time, at 3 o’clock in the morning,” Harlan said, recounting the incident in disbelief. “She’s a small little thing. It kind of just shocked me,” he added. Apparently, little girl, who he learned was named Annabelle, was thirsty. As Harlan called the police and other passengers comforted her, she repeated the same request over and over and over again.
Thankfully, the 52-year-old bus driver and father-of-three stumbled upon Annabelle and called the police before any harm could come to her. Working the night shift, Harlan said he sees plenty of “weirdos” on his route, so he’s grateful Annabelle crossed his path and not someone else’s. Harlan, who’s since been hailed a hero, halted his route for over 20 minutes until police arrived, as those on the bus made small talk with the child.
“She was in good spirits,” Harlan said. “It was like she knew where she was going.” And, perhaps she did since a 7-11, open 24 hours a day, was just three blocks up the road. Unfortunately for Annabelle, that wasn’t where she was going to end up. Instead, the police arrived and took her to St. Christopher’s Hospital, where she was reunited with her mother, Jaclyn Mager.
After inspecting the home, police said no charges would be filed against the girl’s parents. Officers determined that Annabell had gotten up, hours after being in bed, as her mother slept. She reportedly tried the front door first, which was locked. But, undeterred, she headed to the back door and was able to slip out without waking her mother.
Although this was Annabelle’s first solo outing, her parents are determined to make sure it’s her last and have since reconfigured their door locks. As they told the local news about the incident during an interview, Annabelle interrupted, “Mom, can you take me to Wawa and get me a slushie?” Jaclyn agreed but made her daughter promise to wait for her this time.
Although the family can now laugh about the incident, Annabelle’s father, Timothy Ridgeway, admitted that it’s easy to imagine how differently things could have turned out. “My mind is wanting to go places, it’s hard not to,” the concerned dad said. “Thank God for the bus driver,” he added as Jaclyn shared similar sentiments. “There are no words, he saved my daughter’s life,” she said. “I’ll be forever grateful.”
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