Boy, 5, goes missing from Avenel school and is found by firefighters on Routes 1&9
Avenel Fire Co. on Avenel Street and Routes 1 and 9. Staff file photo
WOODBRIDGE, NJ -- It's a good thing the Avenel Fire Company is down the road from Avenel Street Elementary School Nos. 4 and 5.
On Tuesday morning, a 5-year-old boy bolted from the school and walked six blocks toward the busy and dangerous Routes 1 and 9.
Authorities say a possible tragedy was averted by two quick-thinking volunteer firefighters who saw the unescorted boy walk past the firehouse.
The school district is now investigating the incident and the Police Department has suggested the school install door alarms that will sound whenever the doors are opened.
Volunteer firefighters Steve Terebetsky and William “Billy” Karlbon were enjoying a coffee break at the firehouse at the Avenel Street intersection when they saw the kindergartner just after 10 a.m.
“Another minute or 30 seconds we would have been looking at a dead kid,” Karlbon said.
“Usually you see a mom and dad,” said Terebetsky, a 35-year veteran of the company. “I was thinking his mom should be coming soon, but nobody came.”
Terebetsky went out to the corner, where the boy had pressed the pedestrian walk button to cross.
“He looked like he didn't know what to do,” he said.
The firefighters brought the child into the warm firehouse and gave him a tour while Terebetsky called the police.
The firefighter's call at 10:20 a.m. was the first the Police Department heard about the incident. The school called police 15 minutes later.
Dara Kurlander, who is in her second year as principal, learned the boy was missing 10 minutes after the firefighters called police.
The boy's teacher began worrying at 10:17 a.m., some time after she had allowed the child to put on his jacket because he was cold. The teacher then called the school nurse and Kurlander, according to a police report.
Staff searched the building for the boy. Then the principal called police as she went outside to look.
The boy, whose name was not released by officials, told police he had left from Door No. 2, next to the kindergarten restrooms, and was headed to his home, which is across the highway.
The child's mother was notified and took him home unharmed, police said.
The boy traveled six blocks, or 1,600 feet from the school to the firehouse.
Lt. Carl Lizzano suggested school officials install door alarms that can alert staff whenever doors are opened. Doors cannot be locked from the inside because of fire emergencies, he said.
“These buildings weren't designed to be secured structures,” he said.
The school district last year got a $151,000 federal grant to replace outdated door locks and security systems. It is not known whether the school district intends to follow through with Lizzano's recommendation.
Superintendent John Crowe declined to offer any details about the incident because it involved a minor.
Parents of the school were not notified about the incident because, Crowe said, this was not an incident that would require alerting parents.
Lizzano would not comment on the school's response, saying, “I don't like pointing fingers; I like fixing problems.”
Terebetsky, a firefighter for 35 years, said the incident shook him because he has a granddaughter who is also 5.
“I've seen people get hit by cars there and adults killed by cars,” he said.
Avenel fire commissioner John Mitch, who is also the municipal clerk, said the firefighters “did a phenomenal job.”
“We're very proud of their actions. Their attention to detail certainly speaks volumes,” he said.
For Karlbon, it's part of the job he's had for 27 years.
“It was just another day for us,” he said.
Concerned parent, and 
dpinkowitz are discussing.
David Pinkowitz 12:14 am on January 13, 2011 Permalink
Fortunately, there was no foul play involved here and the quick-thinking firefighters prevented a tragedy. But what does concern me, beyond how the child got out of the classroom in the first place, is the timing of everything. According to the post, the principal and nurse were notified of the missing child at 10:17, but the school did not call the police until about 10:35, 15 minutes after the firefighters called. There is a lot that could go wrong with a 5-year-old in that period of time.
A few years ago, the district brought an expert on child abductions to speak to parents. I attended that talk and one of the themes he emphasized is not to delay getting help if your child is missing. Time matters and you don’t know at this point whether the child ran away, was abducted or is simply lost. If we imagine a situation where no one spotted this child, immediate intervention might have allowed the police department to spot him. Meanwhile the search could continue in the building. If the child is found, the police can be called off.
I would think this should certainly be the recommended course of action in elementary schools and middle schools, where no child is expected to go missing. No school wants a Kyle Horman to disappear from within its walls. Early police intervention may prevent a much more serious incident from occurring.
Concerned parent 2:42 pm on March 5, 2011 Permalink
I find this a disgrace! What I find more disturbing is that a similar incident occurred at Ford Ave School 14 and after the principal failed to notify police or parents complaints went to Dr. Crowe and nothing was done. This is the second time a child ran out of Ford Avenue School 14 and nothing was done. Our children’s safety is at the hands of this township and there needs to be more accountability!