When a 6-year-old Paterson school student did not arrive at school, staff contacted the child's parent.
According to officials, Paterson’s Dale Avenue School staff at approximately 8:45 a.m. today, noticed that a 6-year-old girl was missing soon after nine other students got off the bus.
School staff contacted the child’s mother who confirmed that the child boarded the bus this morning.
Immediately school staff contacted the private transportation company, US Student of Woodland Park, who found the unharmed child by approximately 9:30 a.m.
According to bus company owner, Joehan Umer, the bus was still in Paterson at a service station where the driver reportedly stopped to get gas. Adding that although neither the driver nor the aide were aware that the sleeping girl was still aboard the bus, she was never left alone on the bus.
On the other hand, school officials claim that the bus had already returned to the company’s yard in Woodland Park when the child was found.
Adding that the driver initially declined to check the bus after assuring officials that all the children had been dropped off.
School officials later today summoned the bus company owner and driver to a meeting to inform them that they did not want the driver nor aide handling any Paterson routes from that moment on. In addition, the district fined the company $1,000, according to officials.
Umer has since fired the unidentified driver and aide.
The incident has since been reported to the state education department’s Office of Student Transportation.