2 children wander from day care center, found in street, Rock Hill police say

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Two children were found wandering in the street in front of a Rock Hill day care Monday morning, police confirmed to Channel 9.

Officers spotted the two children in the middle of Ebinport Road around 11 a.m.

Police took the children back to the day care and told the workers they found them in the street.

The children were outside in on an outdoor playground and were able to get out through an unlocked gate, police said.

Police said staff members of the day care were unaware that they were missing. The day care operator told reporter Ken Lemon that the fence is normally locked.

The operator, who asked not to be identified, said the teacher realized the children were missing just as police found them.

The incident is still under investigation by the Rock Hill Police Department and the Department of Social Services has been contacted.

Father Jay Beckham told Lemon that he is relieved that the officer drove by at the right time. The officer called Beckham at work.

"I thought she had got hit by a car," Beckham said. "I was in tears. I ran out of the plant. I left work, told my boss 'I'm gone.'"

The children were OK.

Channel 9 checked and found the day care has a B rating. The operator called Monday one of the worst days of her life.

She said she has already contacted a company about building a second fence around the playground.

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