Daycare Escape
Child Escapes North Carolina Daycare, Found in Road; Police Discover Fence Hole
A young girl escaped from a North Carolina daycare and was found standing alone in the middle of a busy road, according to WBTV. A driver spotted the toddler, stopped traffic, and called 911. Police traced her back to the facility after finding a hole in the perimeter fence. The child was safely returned to her mother.
The incident has raised serious questions about safety at the daycare. WSAW reported that police tried to secure the hole in the fence but were unable to fully do so. The mother said she only learned her daughter was missing when police called her — not the daycare.
Toddler Found Alone on Road After Fence Escape
The child — a two-year-old girl — slipped out of the daycare playground through a hole in the chain-link fence, according to WRAL. A good Samaritan driving by spotted her standing in the road and stopped to protect her. The driver held traffic and called 911. Officers arrived and quickly linked the girl to the nearby daycare facility.
Police found the hole near the base of the fence. WLBT reported that officers attempted to secure the gap but were not fully able to repair it on the scene. The child appeared unharmed. She was reunited with her mother shortly after police made contact with the family.
Daycare Knew Child Had Tried to Escape the Day Before
Perhaps the most alarming detail: the daycare told the mother this was not the first attempt. According to ABC11, the facility informed the mother that the child had tried to get through the same spot at the same time the previous day. The hole was still there when the girl escaped again.
The mother, identified as Taneisha Green, said she was furious. "I'm livid," she told reporters. "You don't know my child is gone until the police call me? And then to tell me she tried it yesterday? Why was there still a hole?" The daycare had not moved play activities indoors or fixed the fence in the 24 hours between incidents.
Police Open Investigation Into Daycare Supervision
The Garner Police Department responded to the scene and launched an investigation into the facility's supervision practices, according to WBTV. Officers are reviewing whether staff knew where the child was during outdoor play time. The estimated window between the girl going missing and staff noticing was roughly 10 to 15 minutes.
North Carolina state rules require daycare staff to actively watch children at all times — meaning they must be able to see, hear, and reach them quickly. State law also requires fences to be sturdy and free of hazards. A hole large enough for a toddler to crawl through likely violates those standards. The NC Department of Health and Human Services could issue serious violations and fines.
Safety Experts Say Both Fence and Staff Failed the Child
Child safety experts say two things went wrong at once. "A hole in a fence is a maintenance failure; a child reaching the road is a supervision failure," said analyst Dr. Arlene Mason. Both problems existed here. The fence was broken and not fixed. And no staff member noticed the girl was gone until police called.
The road where the child was found had a posted speed limit of 45 mph, making the situation extremely dangerous. Local parents and child safety advocates have called for the facility's license to be reviewed. State officials have placed the daycare under increased monitoring while the investigation continues, according to KCTV5.
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