2 Toddlers Found Wandering in Street Outside Day Care

Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:38 am

Toddlers Found Wandering Outside Volusia County Day Care
Passing Motorists Find 2 Toddlers In Busy Street

POSTED: 6:03 pm EDT October 25, 2006
UPDATED: 6:59 pm EDT October 25, 2006

SOUTH DAYTONA, Fla. -- An angry mother said she wants to know why her child was allowed to run onto a busy Volusia County street when he was supposed to be safe in a day care.

Police investigators and agents with the Florida Department of Children and Families are asking the same question, WESH 2 News reported.

The parents of two toddlers said their children somehow wandered out of a South Daytona day care Tuesday, and ended up in the middle of a busy road.

The 21-month-old and the 18-month-old are OK thanks to some motorists who scooped them up to safety.

The toddlers were found about 1/4-mile from the Miles of Smiles day care. They were in the middle of busy Reed Canal Road.

Heather Czochara said she wasn't told about her son getting out of the day care until after she had picked up him and returned home.

"I'm thinking my kid should be dead right now, and I thank God that he's OK and so is that other little girl," Czochara said.

She went to the South Daytona Police Department Wednesday to press charges against the day care.

"They were running free down Reed Canal Road where there's two-way traffic and there's retention ponds all down the other side of Reed Canal Road," Czochara said.

The day-care manager could not explain how the two children walked away unnoticed. The day care's director said in a statement that it was "an unfortunate accident" and that the school has already installed new doorknobs that the children can't reach.

The two toddlers were able to get out the school's front door, they walked down several steps and went through a gate that's supposed to be latched.

Other parents said Wednesday that they are sorry about the incident but that they still have confidence in the Miles of Smiles.

"Isolated incidents do happen. I believe they've taken the measurements appropriate for that, and hopefully it won't happen again," said parent Jeanette Mahan.

Czochara said she will never let her son, Caleb, go back to the day care.

"They could have been drowned in a retention pond, a child molester could have got them or they could have got ran over. He runs right into traffic. He don't pay attention. Kids don't pay attention. They should have been watching him," Czochara said.

DCF investigators said Miles of Smiles was cited last September for not enough training for failing to report an accident the day it happened.

The agency said it will take some action against the day care.

http://www.wesh.com/news/10159328/detail.html

Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:41 am

Toddlers In Road Prompt Closure Of Child Center

POSTED: 8:42 am EST October 31, 2006
UPDATED: 9:04 am EST October 31, 2006

SOUTH DAYTONA, Fla. -- A South Daytona child-care center must shut down after two toddlers were found wandering along a street, according to state officials.

The state Department of Children and Families entered an emergency order of suspension Monday to shut down the Miles of Smiles Learning Center. The center must close by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

A 21-month-old boy and a 2-year-old girl slipped out of the center Oct. 24 and were spotted by several motorists who took the children back to the center.

DCF officials said the Child Care Resource network will work with families to find a new center.

The owner has 15 days to seek a hearing with an administrative judge as well as an opportunity to seek a judicial review with the appellate court.

http://www.local6.com/news/10198350/detail.html