SCHOOL BUS CRASH REPORTS 2007

Special Needs Student Left on Miller School District Bus
April 16, 2007

An elementary school student with special needs in the Miller School District in Lawrence County was left on a school bus Monday for more than two hours before the transportation director heard him calling.

The student was using a five point seat belt, which he was unable to unlatch.

"It is a travesty. It was an accident," said superintendent Anthony Rossetti. "No one intended to do it. We are very pleased everything is OK with the boy involved."

The 72-passenger bus was driven by a substitute bus driver. The driver dropped students off at two schools before taking the bus to the bus barn, and apparently didn't notice the remaining child.

Morning weather was cool, said Rossetti. If weather conditions were different, the situation could have turned worse.

"I think the driver looked back in the mirror and saw no one there," said Rossetti. "It wasn't as if they knew someone was on the bus and they left."

Normally, a school employee calls home when students are absent. That did not happen Monday because the employee was absent.

Rossetti said appropriate authorities had been alerted to the situation. "We believe we need to, because it is a question of neglect or abuse, and we are mandated reporters.

"We are working with parents to make sure there isn't any way this can happen again for this child or any child."

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