In a story that feels like a blend of negligence, heroism, and jaw-dropping administrative missteps, an Indiana school bus driver, Kayla Pier, now faces two felony charges after allegedly driving a bus filled with 32 children while intoxicated. The incident, which occurred back in September, has left parents furious, officials scrambling, and students being hailed as heroes for their quick thinking.

On September 20, Pier was tasked with transporting students from La Porte Middle School to Riley Elementary School. But right from the start, the students on board noticed something wasn’t right. Her driving was erratic, her behavior strange, and alarm bells began ringing—not in Pier’s head, but in the minds of the kids she was responsible for.

In a rare show of collective awareness and bravery, these students reported Pier’s odd behavior to school officials upon arrival at Riley Elementary. And thank goodness they did.

School district administrators, including the transportation director, were waiting for Pier when the bus arrived. She was immediately removed from her duties, and the district began investigating. In what might be one of the few silver linings of this mess, Pier resigned later that same day.

But here’s where things start to unravel. Despite the clear seriousness of the situation, the school district didn’t bring the incident to the attention of law enforcement until October 21—more than a month later—after toxicology reports confirmed Pier was indeed intoxicated.

Once the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office was looped in, an investigation began. Deputies reviewed bus surveillance footage, conducted interviews, and pieced together the details of that September day. On December 19, Deputy Brian Crail submitted a Probable Cause affidavit to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The next day, an arrest warrant was issued, and on December 29, Pier turned herself in. She now faces charges of Operating While Intoxicated and Neglect of a Dependent. She was booked into the La Porte County Jail and later released after posting bond.

The La Porte Community School Corporation eventually addressed the arrest on social media, praising the “exceptional judgment and courage” of the students who reported Pier’s behavior. They emphasized their commitment to safety, touting their policies of random drug and alcohol testing, ongoing safety training, and credential verification.

But for many parents, those assurances felt hollow.

Understandably, the delay in reporting this incident to authorities has struck a nerve with parents and community members. Social media lit up with outrage, with many questioning why the police weren’t called immediately.

One commenter asked bluntly: “Why did the school deal with this internally? This was a crime that should have been reported immediately like any other. This is disgusting and disturbing.”

Another pointed out the obvious: “This should have been reported to the police when it happened! Very concerning it was not reported for a month. [Pier should be charged with] 32 counts neglect. 32 counts child endangerment.”

And perhaps most damning of all: “Police should have met her at the school along with the superintendent! Baffling they didn’t call the police right away! She had children on the bus! Even the children knew something was wrong!”

These parents aren’t wrong. If middle school kids could recognize that their bus driver was impaired, why couldn’t the adults who are supposed to protect them take immediate action?

While the adults in charge fumbled their responsibilities, it was the students who stepped up and saved the day. Their vigilance and courage prevented what could have been a catastrophic tragedy. Captain Derek Allen of the sheriff’s office rightly commended their actions, saying their quick thinking likely “prevented a tragedy from occurring.”

In a world where kids are often underestimated, these students proved that sometimes, the most vulnerable people in a situation can also be the most observant and courageous.

This story leaves us with more questions than answers. Why did it take a month for the school to contact law enforcement? Why was this handled internally at first? Were there warning signs about Pier’s behavior before this incident?

The school district’s social media post feels like an attempt to sweep glaring failures under a rug of corporate platitudes. “See something, say something” is all well and good, but what happens when the adults fail to follow through after something is said?