A New Jersey school bus driver is not behind the wheel following the discovery of a child on his school bus The Home News Tribune reported Wednesday.
"I never received a call from the school saying that he didn't show up that day," Mishiloh Akturk mother of the three year-old told The News Tribune. "I got a call at about 2 p.m. saying he sat on the bus all day without heat or food or anything. I guess he fell asleep and was sitting in the back," Akturk told The News Tribune.
Akturk sent her son on his way at 6 a.m., and received a call from the Mercy Transportation company at 2 p.m. saying he had been on the bus throughout the day The News Tribune reported.
"Thank God I bundled him with layers and his hat and gloves," Akturk told The News Tribune. "He sat on that bus for five-plus hours. He could have died. He could have frozen to death. The EMT was there and checked him out. He seems fine. He's was happy and eating his lunch when I got there," Akturk told The News Tribune.
Eight other riders were on the bus at the time of the mistake The News Tribune reported.
"Not only that, but the bus is equipped with the Child Reminder System," a manager at Mercy Transportation told The News Tribune. "When you turn off the bus, the bus gives a buzz or some noise. You have to walk to the back of the bus and open the door and close the door to stop the noise. He did not follow procedure," the manager told The News Tribune.
"Punctuality-wise, he is one of the best drivers," the manager told The News Tribune. "He was even seen on video helping the kids off the bus. He was very good. It's unfortunate it happened to him that way," the manager told The News Tribune.
Police are looking into the case The News Tribune reported. A message is also expected from the Franklin Township Public School District.
