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Bus Driver, Aid Fired After Leaving Seven-Year-Old Paterson Student on School Bus

Paterson

A school bus driver and aide have been fired after a 7-year-old Paterson student remained asleep inside the bus Wednesday morning.

According to officials, the bus driver and aide have been fired after a seven-year-old student was left behind inside the vehicle after departing from Paterson Arts and Science Charter School.

The bus was on its way back to the depot when the second-grader was discovered towards the back of bus.

“The child was never alone on the bus,” said the spokesman, John Watson, the lawyer for the Essex Regional Educational Services Commission.

At this time, it's not clear how far the bus traveled before the child was discovered inside bus or how the child was even detected.

Paterson Public Schools spokeswoman although a report was not immediately received they were advised that the child fell asleep and the bus driver allegedly did not follow protocol to check the entire bus before departing.

Incident remains under investigation.

The bus is owned and operated by Madison Bus Company.

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