Detroit bus driver sparks backlash for giving free rides to random students during cold weather: ‘I felt bad’
An independent Detroit bus driver is at the center of a community debate after allegedly live-streaming himself picking up children and driving them to school, claiming he felt bad for seeing them walk in freezing temperatures.
Darrell Beaver posted on his Facebook page Wednesday morning, offering free rides to students on Detroit’s Eastside. “Hey, I’ll be on the Eastside this morning finding kids that walk to school and giving them a free ride. Let your kids know if a yellow bus with Ellamin’Op Transportation on it is safe to get on. PLEASE SHARE AND DROP SOME LOCATION,” he wrote.
Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) officials issued a warning to parents after the post sparked concern. “An unauthorized bus was reported. Students should only ride official DPSCD buses on assigned routes,” a text alert read, according to ABC 7 Detroit.
Beaver is contracted only to transport children on a planned route for the Braniacs Clubhouse Child Development Center and is not affiliated with the public school district. He did reportedly drop off a child at Fisher Magnet Upper Academy with a parent’s permission.
Beaver told the outlet he acted out of concern for students enduring dangerously cold weather, with wind chills between 10 and 15 degrees below zero. “I just jumped into help mode. Like, it was freezing. I was in a bus for over an hour, my feet were frozen, so I felt bad seeing these kids walking,” he said.
While an investigation found Beaver had no ill intentions, school officials expressed concern about liability and the potential for others to misuse similar opportunities.
“Removing this gentleman from the equation, we don’t have any information or evidence to suggest he had any nefarious intention,” said DPSCD Police Chief Labrit Jackson. “But we’re really focusing on sending the message to young people: do not get into vehicles with strangers.”
Jackson added that even unintentional actions could give others ideas about accessing children. “These are children likely taught not to be disrespectful to adults, so do not put them in a position where they have to be defiant,” he said.
Beaver said offering rides to random students is not something he usually does, but he couldn’t ignore the kids struggling in the cold. Parents’ reactions were mixed. Some praised him for helping families who could not afford ride-share services.
“I wasn’t mad, but I was hurt because we were really trying to get to work and school. Lift is $50, and I don’t have $50 to get them to school at 6-something in the morning,” parent Jimerson said. Beaver confirmed he did not profit from giving extra rides.
On Facebook, supporters argued that his actions were helpful and well-intentioned. Others worried about student safety. “Who knows in this day and age what someone wants to do with someone else’s children? Even with insurance and safety issues, it’s totally inappropriate,” parent Alana Jackson told Fox 2 Detroit.
Diana Longmire, another parent, defended Beaver’s care. “We just need to be careful about our children. That’s why I brave the cold, that’s why I’m here, so when she comes out the door, she comes right into this car,” she said.
The school district is not pursuing charges, and Beaver has agreed to stop offering rides to students outside his contracted route.
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