Lane ESD investigates after autistic Springfield student leaves school, reaches bus station

A school-day lapse sent a 13-year-old autistic student more than a mile from Hamlin Middle School to the Springfield bus station, and the unanswered questions now center on how a child identified as an elopement risk was able to get away, who was watching him, and whether required safeguards were in place.

Sara Mazoros got a phone alert at 12:25 p.m. on May 27 saying her son, Declan Mazoros, had left the Springfield school. Declan was supposed to be walking on the track after lunch, but instead made it to the bus station, where his parents later found him with help from an Angel Sense tracking device. His family said he cannot fully communicate or understand immediate danger, making the incident far more serious than a routine absence.

The episode hit the Mazoros family with familiar fear. In December 2023, Declan had apparently gotten away from teachers, boarded an LTD bus and ended up at the Springfield bus station. That earlier incident now hangs over the latest one, because Declan’s November 2025 individualized education program reportedly identifies him as an elopement risk and says a teacher should be with him at all times.

Lane Education Service District, which serves Lane County students with special needs, opened an investigation and said superintendent Tony Scurto was interviewing staff and anyone who may have been nearby. Scurto did not spell out possible consequences if employees are found to have failed in their duties, saying he could not discuss specifics because personnel matters may be involved.

For families of students with disabilities, the case goes beyond one child and one campus. Oregon special education law requires an individualized education program for each eligible student, and that plan is supposed to be built by a team that includes the child’s teacher, a district representative and parents or guardians. When a student’s plan flags elopement, the practical obligation is clear: supervision has to match the risk.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes wandering, also called elopement, as leaving a safe area or responsible caregiver, and says it is a serious safety issue for some people with disabilities, their families and the community. In Springfield, that community concern is sharpened by geography. Lane Transit District’s network makes Springfield Station a major transit hub, which means a child who slips past school supervision can reach a public transportation corridor quickly.

Parents in Lane County will be watching for more than an investigation summary. The real test will be whether Lane ESD and the school district explain how Declan left campus, whether supervision rules changed immediately, and whether students with known elopement risks are now being protected in the way their plans require.