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Rhode Island school bus driver takes kids to wrong state in GPS mishap

A Rhode Island school bus driver took a group of prep school students to the wrong state an hour away after a GPS mishap that sent parents into panic mode, reports said.

The newly-hired driver for First Student bus company typed in the correct street address but wrong city — and ended up in rural Connecticut instead of La Salle Academy in Providence, WJAR reported.

Confused kids on the hour-long ride Monday morning noticed they’d passed a “Welcome to Connecticut” sign and texted pictures to their parents.

“Open the door! I’m calling police!” one worried dad yelled at the driver, after tracking down the runaway bus, according to a video clip obtained by WRAL.

The female bus driver didn’t allow students off the bus, but called local police. Responding officers found that the driver mistakenly typed in an address in Sterling, Connecticut — about 30 miles outside of Providence, WJAR reported.

A school bus driver took prep-school kids to the wrong state after following a botched GPS address.
A school bus driver took prep school kids to the wrong state after following a botched GPS address. WJAR 10
The bus driver ended up 30 miles away from La Salle Academy in Providence.
The bus ended up 30 miles away from La Salle Academy in Providence before it was escorted back over the Connecticut border. WJAR 10

A cop finally escorted the directionally challenged driver to the school, where the busload of kids arrived safely but late to class, police and school officials told the station.