B.C. to investigate case of sisters left stranded overnight by Greyhound driver

The case of two girls left stranded overnight at a 24-hour gas station by a Greyhound bus driver has promptedan investigation by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation.

"No reasonable individual would leave two children in a potentially unsafe location on the side of the road," said B.C. Transportation Minister Todd Stone. "If indeed what has been alleged actually took place, obviously it's completely and totally unacceptable."

Chelsie and Jessie Kazakoff, two sisters age12 and 16 respectively, found themselves alone in Valemount, B.C., for almost five hours last weekend.

Valemount is about 290 kilometres southeast of Prince Georgein B.C'sCentral Interior. It's located on Highway 5, not far fromThe Highway of Tears.

The sisters were en route from a spring break visit with their mother in Prince George,and werescheduled to change buses in Valemountto one bound for Red Deer, Alta., near Sylvan Lake, where they live with their father.

When they attempted to board the second bus, they were told that their tickets had expired, the bus was full, and they would have to wait until the morning for anotherbus.

Stone said the province's Passenger Transportation Act has a number of provisions thatprevent motor carriers such as Greyhound from leaving passengers, particularly children, in unsafe locations. Penalties range from fines to licence suspension.

"As someone with three young daughters of my own, I just cannot imagine finding out that my children were potentially left on the side of the road in the middle of the night because of a ticket not being valid," Stone said. "We're going to get to the bottom of this."

Sisters never left alone, Greyhound says

Lanesha Gipson, a senior communications specialist for Greyhound, said the girls were never left alone, and that Greyhound personnel were in constant contact with them throughout the night.

The Valemount gas station/restaurant is a "24-hour facility with dedicated Greyhound personnel," Gipson told B.C. Almanac host Michelle Elliot.

In addition to dedicated terminals, Greyhound operates a number of what it calls "agencies" across the country, which are other businesses such as gas stations that sell tickets on Greyhound's behalf. Gipson said the Valemount location has a full-time Greyhound-associated attendant.

Gipson said Greyhound is conducting its own investigation to determine the exact details of what happened, including how the girls were able to board the bus in Prince George with expired tickets in the first place.

"This is a matter we're not taking lightly," she said.

With files from Betsy Trumpener and Richard Zussman.