SAN ANTONIO - An elementary school student leaves campus and hitches a ride home after he was disciplined. He was found one hour later, but the ordeal has sparked an investigation at Northside Independent School District.

Corey Heemer recounts every second when her child Colten disappeared from Cole Elementary on Monday morning. I asked her what went through her head.

"What did she mean gone? Did she really just lose my kid?" said Heemer. "Did he go the counselor? Did he go somewhere else on campus? What do you mean he's just gone?"

Colten's third grade teacher made a decision at 9 a.m. to place him outside of the portable classroom after misbehaving. Heemer said her special needs child did not stick around during his timeout, going under a fence and leaving campus.

"We was able to crawl under, and he had his backpack on," described Heemer. "So he crawled under and was able to walk back up that side street."

After Colton crawled under the gated fence to leave campus, the third grader then walked up to the corner on Pritcher Road and Tillman Ranch where his mother says he crossed the street and flagged down a complete stranger driving by in a truck to take him home about a mile-and-a half away.

Doorbell video from the house, captures the unidentified driver dropping of Colten safely in front of his house.

Northside ISD officials say there was a break in protocol. There are other mechanisms available for teachers when they need assistance.

"The teacher should have called the front office for an administrator, or a counselor or another campus staff to assist in the matter," said Barry Perez, Northside Independent School District Communications Director.

Northside Independent School District will continue its investigation. Barry Perez says they want to use this incident as a way to reinforce instruction to teachers on how to handle a situation like this going forward.