Darren Campbell
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 19/98) - Three hundred and fourteen kilometres. That was the walk Remy Torgerson had ahead of him on Aug. 14 when the Frontier Coachlines bus he was on left him behind in Fort Providence.

As if that wasn't bad enough, the 21-year-old Yellowknifer was left there with only $10 in cash and he knew no one there. He said he did not call for help from Yellowknife because his cell phone was not working.

Feeling he had no other options, Torgerson decided to hitchhike his way back home. He said he walked for four hours before his uncle, who was driving from Wrigley, picked him up.

Torgerson's adventure started around 7 p.m. that night when the bus he was taking from Grimshaw, Alberta to Yellowknife pulled in to a Fort Providence store for a 10 minute stop.

He said he went in for a coffee with a fellow passenger and was in there about 15 minutes when they noticed the bus was leaving.

"I threw away my coffee and went running after it (the bus) but the guy (the driver) didn't see me," said Torgerson.

The whole episode has left Torgerson plenty mad. He said he wants the driver of the bus to be held accountable for leaving him in Fort Providence.

"He just left me high and dry in the middle of nowhere," said Torgerson. "I want his job. I don't want him driving any more."

But Colleen Gagnier, the owner and manager of Frontier Coachlines, said when the bus driver made his stop at the Snowshoe Inn, located across the street from the store, the passengers were told they would be stopping for 10 minutes and they would not wait for late passengers.

She said the driver ended up waiting 25 minutes and even went into the coffee shop to look for them but didn't find them. Unable to find Torgerson and his friend, the bus left without them.

"With a scheduled run we can't babysit people," said Gagnier.

Torgerson said that by his count there were only 18 people on the 47-seat bus. He said that the driver should have noticed that and let he and his friend know the bus was going.

He added that he also wants a full refund of the cost of the $130 ticket and his carry-on bag that he had on the bus and has not been found. The bag had a portable CD player, 36 CDs, a flashlight, cell phone battery and a roll of film in it.

Gagnier said Torgerson has been refunded the Fort Providence to Yellowknife portion of his ticket. She said they are not liable for any carry-on baggage passengers lose while they are on the bus.

They are responsible for up to $50 for baggage that is checked in by passengers. If a passenger pays insurance on their baggage Frontier can be responsible for more than that.