Parents trust school transportation to deliver their children safely. That trust was shaken on August 6 when a 9-year-old boy in Blackwood, New Jersey, was left alone on a hot, empty school bus after falling asleep during a summer program pickup.
What Happened
According to reporting by 6ABC Philadelphia, the boy boarded the bus around 8 a.m. for the district's summer program at Union Valley Elementary School. He apparently fell asleep during the ride and remained on the bus when it returned to the district transportation yard. When he woke up, the vehicle was empty and hot.
"I lifted up this thing to open the door. I got off the bus and looked for anyone. I found this man, so I asked him, 'Do you know where I can go back?'" the boy said. "I was trying to be a big boy, so I just acted brave and normal."
A district employee later found the child wandering in the parking area. Child Protective Services then escorted him back to school.
Mother Seeks Answers
The boy's mother, Wanda Chandler, said the school did not contact her until roughly two and a half hours after he had boarded the bus. Chandler, who says her son has ADHD, called the incident "unacceptable" and questioned how safety checks could have failed.
"I still have a lot of questions that need answers. I was just given the bare minimum," she told reporters. Chandler highlighted the risks — from heat inside the vehicle to the possibility of her son wandering into the depot or encountering strangers — and urged the district to explain what went wrong and what steps will be taken to prevent a repeat.
What We Know
• The child boarded the bus at about 8 a.m. for summer school and fell asleep during the trip.
• He woke up alone in a parked bus at the district transportation yard and exited the vehicle to look for help.
• A district worker found the child in the parking lot and CPS brought him back to school.
• The mother says the school only notified her after two and a half hours and is demanding a full explanation.
The family had recently moved into the district, and Chandler said she enrolled her son in the summer program to help him acclimate to riding the bus. The incident raises renewed concern about end-of-route checks and student safety procedures on school transportation.
