School Corporation on High Alert Following Bus Stop Incident

 

Eastern Pulaski School Corporation officials say a man tried to talk a couple of students into his vehicle this  morning while they were waiting for their bus.

The incident happened at a bus stop near Beardstown, which is north of Winamac on U.S. 35, according to Superintendent Dan Foster. The suspect is described as a man between the ages of 30 and 40 with black hair. He was driving an older, tan colored, 4-door vehicle, possibly a Chrysler.

Foster says he waved to the students and asked them to get into his car. None did, and the man sped away when a family member’s vehicle came down the driveway.

The incident has been reported to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, and Foster says they have interviewed some of the students involved. He urges parents to be sure someone is home when their children get off the bus and to talk to them about not talking to strangers or getting into vehicles with people they do not know.

Foster also advises telling youngsters who to call if they feel threatened. Authorities also encourage anyone with a cell phone camera to snap a picture should an incident like this occur in the future.

Foster says bus drivers have been made aware of the incident and are on high alert. He adds school officials cannot be too careful given the recent abduction and murder of two girls near Delphi. An incident similar to this morning’s attempted abduction occurred in Fulton County a few weeks ago as well.