An Idaho mother is suing Greyhound Lines for allegedly stranding her son for five days because it considered him too young to travel alone.
Susan Ashton says the bus company sold her a round-trip ticket for her 14-year-old son to Roseville, California. However, the lawsuit says when the boy tried to return home, the driver refused to allow him on the bus, citing a company policy that prohits children under 15-years-old to travel unaccompanied at night.
Ashton then called Greyhound officials, and they agreed to let her son travel home. But in Sacramento, a bus driver refused to let him on board, and left him stranded.
Ashton says in the suit: "The defendant refused to provide any aid or assistance to the abandoned minor child for five days until plaintiffs' attorney contacted defendant's corporate attorney and requested immediate attention to the matter."
Five bus drivers allowed Micah Aston to ride all the way to Roseville.
In the ensuing five days, Micah was cared for by other family members. Greyhound finally arranged the boy's travel to Salt Lake City, where he was reunited with his family.
The lawsuit seeks more than $169,000 for emotional and mental anguish.
A Greyhound attorney says the company is vigorously defending itself.
