Kids' walk to school — along highway — ends safely

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Saturday, December 15, 2007

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By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer

A several-mile hike in the biting cold on Friday morning didn’t damper the spirits of three youngsters determined to make it to school.

The fact that the school Christmas party was set for Friday, may have influenced the youngsters’ decision.

The adventure for the cousins, two girls, 6 and 7, and a 10-year-old boy, started around 8 a.m., when the children missed the school bus on Kilburn Avenue and decided to hoof it to Carneros Elementary School — a pretty good jaunt.

Deciding to walk to school was the kids’ first mistake. The second — an even bigger no-no — was picking the same route the school bus takes on Highway 29.

The children made it to southbound Highway 29, just south of First Street and began their trek.

“I was parked on Imola Avenue at Highway 29, when a citizen stopped and told me three kids were walking southbound on Highway 29 on the shoulder,” California Highway Patrol Officer Wayne Bernard said.

Bernard took off to investigate the report, and as he entered the highway from First Street, he saw a red Ford Expedition pulling off the shoulder of the road into traffic.

“I followed the Expedition. The female driver took the Imola Avenue offramp,” Bernard said. “I was still following the vehicle, and I could see a child in the back seat.”

Bernard pulled the Expedition over at Golden Gate Drive. “I confronted the driver and could see three children sitting in the back seat.”

The driver had seen the children on the highway, stopped and told them it was unsafe to walk on the freeway. She told them to get into her car, Bernard said.

“She meant well, but I really scolded the children for getting into a car with a stranger,” Bernard said. “I also told the driver she should have driven off the freeway, immediately stopped in a safe place and called authorities. She was going to take them to school.”

After getting identification from the driver, Bernard said, she was free to go.

“I took custody of the kids and drove them to the CHP office,” he said. “I called the school and confirmed the children were students there and also got the telephone numbers for the mothers.”

Napa police were called. The mothers showed up at the CHP office a short time later to retrieve their offspring.

“I talked to the mothers and told them that they needed to educate their children to never get into a car with a stranger. If the wrong person had picked up those kids, we wouldn’t have even known they were missing for about eight hours until after school was dismissed.”

Bernard said he forwarded a copy of his report to Child Protective Services for review.

42 comment(s)

Dirty Napkin wrote on Dec 15, 2007 5:25 AM:

" Boy, That was just dumb all the way around. "

nan03 wrote on Dec 15, 2007 7:32 AM:

" Thank goodness for that "CHP" I hope the mothers have a good long talk with their children. I am so glad that some one stopoed and let the "CHP" know about the kids and he didn't just brush it off. "

Dwayne wrote on Dec 15, 2007 8:34 AM:

" Procedural overkill. The cop could have taken them to school, lectured them, and had the school notify their parents. Instead he went for the throat as if the kids were perps. For the driver who picked them up: "No good deed goes unpunished." Now when those kids see a cop car they'll cringe instead of smile. The CHP could have built a bridge with the young ones intead of a wall. "

formernapamom wrote on Dec 15, 2007 9:44 AM:

" Where was the parental supervision prior to them missing the bus that the kids couldn't return home and have been dropped off by a parent in the first place? "

kevin wrote on Dec 15, 2007 10:04 AM:

" At one time, the cop would have just taken the kids to school and given them a lecture about safety. Giving the lady a hard time for trying to help was over the line. I know he is trying to justify his overpaid job, but in the real world people get by just fine without having to call the cops for every little thing that happens. Getting Child Protective Services involved was totally unnecessary (but I'm sure he would say he was "required" to do it.) Its definitely a different world today... "

sunny wrote on Dec 15, 2007 11:46 AM:

" I'm glad that everything turned out ok but I'm curious about something. These children from the Kilburn area go to school out in the Carneros area? "

crusherfan wrote on Dec 15, 2007 2:12 PM:

" If my kids wrere walking on the freeway I would hope the CHP would get involved,and the CPS.Kids 6,7,10,need to be educated not to walk on the freeway and in no way is the CHP out of line or overpaid. "

fortethetank wrote on Dec 15, 2007 3:02 PM:

" Why give the lady a hard time for helping out? If she hadn't stopped and the kids got plastered on the highway 5 minutes later then we'd be asking "why didn't anybody stop?" Way to go kids for still going to school. I would have stayed home and played my Wii all day. "

Joe wrote on Dec 15, 2007 3:11 PM:

" It sounds like the driver did get off the freeway immidiately. Imola is the first offramp she could have taken. If she was going to take them to Carneros I would think she would have kept going south on 29 past Imola. The lady who picked them up did the right thing by getting those kids off the freeway where they could have become roadkill. "

napablogger wrote on Dec 15, 2007 3:52 PM:

" Yeah Kevin, I would even go so far as to wonder how at risk the kids really are to being helped by a strange adult. I would wager they have a better chance of getting in a vehicle accident on the bus than encountering a stranger that will do them harm in Napa. I know this comment may sound off the wall, but we get so overblown about all these safety issues and you just wonder what the real numbers are. How many kids have been abducted on their way to school in Napa in the last decade say, vs how many school bus accidents have their been? "

Joe wrote on Dec 15, 2007 4:46 PM:

" This is one of those times where these kids should be punished by their parents. They should get spanked and grounded. They knew better than to walk to school. Especially on the freeway. Even a dog would know not to walk on the freeway. "

richaelsmommie wrote on Dec 15, 2007 5:07 PM:

" I know the mother's of these kids. The kids wanted to go to school and didn't know what to do. They knew if they missed school they would be in trouble. These kids did get into trouble just so people know. To top it off these kids are not latino at all. They go to Carneros cause Westwood was full. Can you all please quit bashing these parents and kids. I can only say that they learned their lessons and will never do it again. Their mom's drop them off at the bus stop everyday and do the whole bus thing. So please stop bashing my friends into the ground. "

hawkeye wrote on Dec 15, 2007 5:39 PM:

" I don't think some of you guys here get it. Would you let your kids get into a strangers' car? I think not! Should've the CHP called the school before taking the kids there? Absolutely! What if the kids lied about which school they were going to? If it was your kids I think you would think differently. Those that think this was overkill. Kids aren't dumb enough to run onto the lanes of traffic. Although it's not safe to be on the highway, seeing these kids walking along it could have been the perfect opportunity for a kidnapper to strike. You have to weigh the dangers. Apparently this lady's judgement was impaired as well as a few others commenting here. The cops did everything right. "

Margo wrote on Dec 15, 2007 5:41 PM:

" If their parents drop them off at the bus stop every day and" do the bus thing", THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THEIR CHILDREN DID NOT GET ON THE BUS! We HAVE to hold parents accountable to what happens to their kids!!! I would NEVER drop them off and LEAVE before KNOWING that they were safe ON the damned bus! "

Joe wrote on Dec 15, 2007 7:44 PM:

" Hey hawkeye, the kids wouldn't have to walk into the lanes to get hit. There's a lot of bad drivers out there that could hit them. A police officer would be a stranger if the kids did not know them. Do you think the kids should not get in with them? The lady who picked them up saved their lives. She should be looked at as a hero for caring enough to stop. "

Kim wrote on Dec 15, 2007 9:13 PM:

" I am the mom who picked these children up. I was shocked to see them walking along the freeway with their backpacks on as I was driving 60mph by them. As a mother of two young daughters, my instinct told me to pull over immediately and help them get off that highway as soon as possible. Yes, I agree with the officer about about getting in the car with a stranger but thank goodness it was me. I was on my cell phone to dial Carneros School when the officer pulled me over after I exited at Imola. Maybe I wasn't thinking clearly at the time on where to bring them first but my only concern was for their safety and to get them to their school where they would feel safe and let the school principal deal with the situation. "

hawkeye wrote on Dec 15, 2007 10:03 PM:

" Hey Joe, I know there are bad drivers out there, but there are also kidnappers and murderers out there too. A cop is an officer of the law sworn in to protect and serve. There is a difference between a typical stranger and a police officer. The lady meant well, but you don't just pull over and tell kids to get in the car. You pull over and call the police! It's about weighing the dangers, remember? "

hawkeye wrote on Dec 15, 2007 10:10 PM:

" Neither walking along the freeway or getting into a stranger's car is safe. It scares me to know you guys actually thought it was okay to get into a stranger's car. Here's an idea. Why not pull ahead and ask the kids to stay put until the cops come? That way, you get them off the highway without looking like a potential kidnapper. This lady was going to drive them all the way to school. I think the parent would've had a heart attack knowing this. "

fortethetank wrote on Dec 16, 2007 12:34 PM:

" The longer they stayed on the highway the greater the potential for them to get hit, the driver and the kids. You see those videos from the police officers car cameras all the time of people getting hit on the highway. This world isn't just filled with kidnappers either. People need to stop being so afraid of everyone. "

CAl wrote on Dec 17, 2007 3:36 AM:

" To Kim - sounds like no one has thanked you for being a concerned citizen. Don't know details of situation but i'm sure everything you did was just out of kindness and concern. Let's just be thankful that the kids were okay and not hurt out there on that busy highway. "

LEELA80 wrote on Dec 17, 2007 7:43 AM:

" Hey Margo give me a break not all of us can afford to just be a stay at home mom or just be doing volunteer work when we want to!!! I have a job that i have to be to every morning to support my children so i can't just sit at the bus stop until the bus decides to show up!!! My child has a routine every morning and has had the same one for 3 years now this was due to error of my child goofing off that she missed the bus and her and her cousins did make an awful mistake and she was disaplined for her actions!!!!I am here to let all you know that I am a good parent and that my daughter has been told a million times of the risk of talking to strangers and the dangers of the roads.This is the first and the last time a mistake this great will happen.There were of course the option to get a ride from 2 of her aunts that live right down the little street but they chose not to take that option!!!! I thank GOD for the nice lady and for the CHP.Kids do make wrong decisions and my daughter knew better but kids dont think about dangers all the time even if they have been told a million times!!! You ask her "how many times has mommy told you about strangers and the dangers of the road" she responds "alot of times" so its not that she hasn't been told or taught!!!!!If you know only what the paper reads and dont know the real situation than rude comments should not be left!!!!! "

LEELA80 wrote on Dec 17, 2007 10:02 AM:

" to formernapamom if the kids would have returned to their home or to their aunts home they would have gotten a ride to school like has happened in the past!!!!!! Again dont comment if you know nothing "

LEELA80 wrote on Dec 17, 2007 10:51 AM:

" To Joe my child was punished!!! and to compare children to a dog stating "even a dog would know not to walk on the highway" SHAME ON YOU!!!! "

Joe wrote on Dec 17, 2007 1:04 PM:

" Well come on,they could have taken freeway drive to Imola and then taken Golden Gate drive to Carneros highway, then they could have crossed safely at the new stoplight. From there they could have walked to school with plenty of room on the shoulder. That's the route my dog would have taken. Didn't they realize that it was a really far walk to school? I can understand the two younger kids following the ten year old. But a ten year old. That's plenty old enough to know better. "

hawkeye wrote on Dec 17, 2007 5:56 PM:

" Shame on Joe for once again comparing the kids to dogs. "

Bill wrote on Dec 18, 2007 8:25 AM:

" Children are not dogs neither are they kids the spawn of goats. If more people thought of them less as little barnyard creatures and more as human beings many of our problems would be solved. "

Skip M. wrote on Dec 18, 2007 12:24 PM:

" When I was in elementary school (late 60s early 70s), a classmate tried running across highway 29, just north of Lincoln. He did not make it. The stain remained on the pavement for years. As I have written many times, tragedy strikes in the blink of an eye. Kim, to my thinking, you absolutely did the right thing. I can only imagine that you would have never forgiven yourself if you had not picked them up and the story ended with three young fatalities. To the CHP, thank you for responding and your good instincts. What people don’t seem to understand is that from the back of the vehicle, the CHP officer could not tell if the children had been picked up by a stranger of a parent, an good Samaritan or known sex offender, was this person taking them to school or someplace else? It seems to me that Kim and Officer Bernard formed a de-facto team that morning that ensured three children’s safety. God bless both of you. "

Skip M. wrote on Dec 18, 2007 12:45 PM:

" To Leela80: I am with you. Some people are going to jump down your throat for trusting your kids to get to the buss and to school while you go to work. But many of these are the same people that would look down their noses at you if you collected welfare and remained home for your children. You really cannot win. Perhaps you can get lucky at the lottery and never have to work again, but then someone will complain that you really didn’t deserve to win that either. Darned if you do and darned if you don’t. Thank heaven your children are safe. That really is the important thing. "

tuppie wrote on Dec 18, 2007 1:04 PM:

" to all of you : I know these children personally and their parents,I understand about raising children and their safety but its true you all do not know all of the facts these are children who have been told the dangers of our world and out of excitement for a Christmas party chose to disobey what they know is right from wrong and walked to school.the mothers of these children are hard working and educated,and love their children very much and no one has the right to make any comments to the fact that they are anything but well taken care of,I have the ability to run my own company and still have the freedom to be home with my kids,but lets take a pole this is not the 1950 a family these days is 2 working parents and if the dad is gone who is left THE MOTHER alone to carry the burden of everything so instead of passing so much judgement how about reaching out a hand to offer suggestion of what your community can do to help mothers like them.remember for every time you point the finger there are 3 pointing back at you.dont you think you energy could be much more useful getting drugs off the street and removing drunk driving from the WINE county!!!! so before the next time comes lean a hand not a harsh word.and thank you to kim and the chp for a safe return of these 3,merry christmas "

LEELA80 wrote on Dec 18, 2007 2:29 PM:

" For all of the nice people that had nice things to say instead of comments that were very offensive GOD BLESS and again to the CHP & KIM GOD BLESS and Merry Christmas to all and I am thankful these these kiddos will be here to enjoy Christmas still due to the parent that stopped and the officer.Its great to know that there are still good people out there that can be supportive instead of downing someone all the time!!! "

Joe wrote on Dec 18, 2007 8:11 PM:

" I still don't understand how a ten year old would think walking onto a onramp and onto the freeway would be ok. Does anybody else know anyone that might have done that at that age? "

misfit wrote on Dec 18, 2007 9:44 PM:

" I have lived a lot of places and I must say, never have I encountered so much hatred and judgement as I have witnessed right here in Napa. First, I just want to ask the question; what is it about someone using their instincts and having good intentions that inspires such a need to say the most hateful and hurtful things? As I see it, this should have been a feel good story...but not in Napa. What is wrong with you people here? I see and hear examples of judgement, arrogance, hatred and racism in these comment pages on a daily basis. These people are so mean spirited and hateful and I don't understand why. Are your lives so horrible that you need to point the finger at everyone else. Are you so spiritually vapid and emotionally empty that you can't muster up compassion? Do you need to judge so enthusiastically? Yet, you feel that somehow you are so deserving of something better than what you are experiencing in this town. You have NO values whatsoever. The woman who saved those kids is a heroine. To be ridiculed and basically slapped on the wrist for doing a good thing essentially is beyond my comprehension. Who would've sat there and analyed the situation to the nth degree before acting? I'm disappointed that the CHP officer had to humiliate and lecture her publically. And anyone who feels they need to analyze the thoughts and actions of a young child and show such little compassion for these children...well, you can only imagine what kind of person he is. I just don't get this town??? "

hawkeye wrote on Dec 19, 2007 10:15 AM:

" Let's understand something here. The lady who picked the kids up meant well. But, the CHP officer could have arrested her for "kidnapping", even though she was just trying to help. The officer was nice enough to only give her a talking to. He was just doing his job. The kids walking along the freeway were not in a dire life/death situation, even though it is not considered safe doing so. Chances are overwhelming that they would have made it to their destination unharmed. When I see kids walking along the road I slow down and watch my driving even closer. I'm sure that most motorists who saw them were extra careful not to veer off the road. The chances of being kidnapped are higher. Now, if they were CROSSING the highway or walking in the lanes of traffic, then the chances of being hit spike drastically. The story only says that they walked along the freeway. Now if the kids were clearly in direct danger in an impending attack, fire or accident, it would be different. If it were me I would have pulled ahead where it was safe and told the kids to stay put while I called the police and until they arrived. Consider this too: If you give a ride to a child and they tell you where to take them, how do you know if they're telling the truth? If you take them to the wrong place or if they get hurt in your "custody", you are liable. Or worse, you take them to the wrong place AND they get hurt. You can be sued for everything you've got AND be arrested on kidnapping charges. We live in a sue-happy world these days. "

Skip M. wrote on Dec 19, 2007 3:09 PM:

" References had been made to days gone by when picking up the kids and taking them to school would have not only been the right thing to do, but the expected thing to do. Similar references were made regarding similar times when the officer would have simply taken the kids on to school, given them a talking to about walking on the freeway and taking rides with strangers. Some of us wish we still lived in those times. Life was simpler, and I think happier. My grandfather was the Chief of Police in Napa during those simpler and happier times. I remember sitting at the breakfast table one morning and asking him what he does with kids that get into trouble. He said “I turn them over my knee, give them a paddling, then take them home to their parents.” I was about five years old then, and Grandpa is part of history now. But the point is that we had a more common sense take on things back then. Now everybody has an attorney and is absolutely ready to take the other guy to court. If you don’t like the grade little Johnny got on an assignment, sue the teacher. Upset at your daughter’s role in the Christmas pageant, sue the director. Don’t like the color of the decorative lights, or someone said “Merry Christmas”, sue the city. I still think Kim and Officer Bernard did the right things. Everyone seems to think they have the answer to other people’s challenges, but so few are willing to hold out their hand or offer a pat on the back. Merry Christmas. Perhaps that lump of coal Santa brings will warm your heart. "

Joe wrote on Dec 19, 2007 9:24 PM:

" It's a good thing things have changed since Skip M's grandfather was police chief. A police officer should not have the right to spank a kid. That is perverted if you ask me. Touching a young child on the rear end. "

hawkeye wrote on Dec 20, 2007 7:46 AM:

" Some things that were okay back in the 1950s when society was community oriented are no longer okay today. Such as paddling children and giving them rides. Like I said SKIP M, as well intentioned as Kim was, she could have very well gotten sued by the parent if any of the kids got hurt or if she had gotten in a car accident while giving them a ride. If she had gotten in a car accident while giving them a ride, her life would be ruined. Even if the accident was not her fault if the kids got hurt in her custody, she'd be paying settlement costs the rest of her life. That's certainly not a risk I'd be willing to take. It is a reality in today's world as sad as that is. "

tuppie wrote on Dec 20, 2007 1:21 PM:

" do you all remember back when we were younger and the teacher said to whisper in each others ear in a circle and by the time it gets back to her the whole story is different....well this started out as 3 kids making a bad decision and walking on the highway to spanking is perverted are you serious..bottom line people the kids are OK the parents are done being ridiculed and misfit and hawkeye seem to be the only ones with smarts here,thank you so much misfit for identifying the fact of why I moved out of napa in the first place people are stuck up judgemental, self centered, and just plan full of them selfs.and it just leaves me breathless that the rest of you are still going on about this like you can sit in judgement of the world.If that was the case then go be the president, but my guess is you wont get voted in. "

Joe wrote on Dec 20, 2007 4:29 PM:

" I think it is irrisponsible to put your kids on a school busin the first place. They don't even have seat belts. Who's bright idea was that to not have seat belts on buses? Maybe it's a way to save money or something. "

hawkeye wrote on Dec 21, 2007 8:15 AM:

" Joe, the National Transportation Highway Safety Advisory I believe it's called doesn't believe seat belts are necessary on school buses because of another safety technique employed within the school bus. It is called compartmentalization. The seats have high backs, are close together and are composed of impact absorbing material. So in a crash the kids are confined to their space and that technique would perform the same as a seatbelt would. The problem with seatbelts on a school bus is getting the children to use them properly and making sure they're all using them. Seatbelts may also slow an evacuation of a burning bus. "

formernapamom wrote on Dec 22, 2007 3:52 AM:

" To leela80- I AM a mother of an 11 year old and I have had a full time job the entire time. I NEVER leave the bus stop until she is safely on board. BOTH of my parents had full time jobs but one of them always made sure my siblings and I made it safely on the bus. There are too many what-ifs when you leave a child, no matter what age, to wait for a bus. No job is more important than your child. Your child (or children) are irreplaceable. "

Joe wrote on Dec 22, 2007 2:25 PM:

" The headline for this article should say "Kids walk along the freeway ends safely" not "kids walk along highway ends safely". It is not illigal or necessarilly dangerous to walk along a highway in comparison to a freeway. These kids were walking on the freeway which means they took a onramp to get on the freeway. "

Joe wrote on Dec 23, 2007 10:27 PM:

" This whole situation has really put a damper on the holiday season. Those kids had no business walking on the freeway. I hope they are grounded for their whole Christmas break and given coal in their stockings from Santa Clause. "

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