Driver charged after special needs student left on bus
A Palmerton man faces a charge of reckless endangerment in connection with a special needs student who was left on a Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit bus Wednesday for four hours.
Rodger Sander, 75, told police he dropped students off at a school in Lehighton on Wednesday morning and yelled, “everyone off the bus,” before returning to his Harvard Avenue residence in Palmerton around 8:45 a.m., Palmerton officer Trevor Flexer wrote in an affidavit of probable cause filed at Magisterial District Judge William Kissner’s office.
Sander said he did not check the seats before leaving the school. When he returned to his bus around 12:30 p.m., a student in the back of the bus sat up and Sander called 911.
According to police, Sander said he did not see the student at drop off and “he must have been laying on the seat.”
While alone on the bus, the student defecated on himself.
The student, who police said could not speak, was awake and alert when emergency medical officials responded to the scene.
“The Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit is currently investigating all facts related to this very serious matter,” Dr. Elaine E. Eib, CLIU executive director, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Eib said the CLIU strongly emphasizes child safety and well-being in the education and transportation of all of its students.
“What occurred is a matter of the utmost concern to us and we will do everything possible to investigate how this occurred,” she said. “The Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit has procedures and protocols to ensure all students have vacated a vehicle before the driver leaving a vehicle unattended and to ensure student safety. Our comprehensive investigation will continue.”
The reckless endangerment charge is a second-degree misdemeanor. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 9 at 10:30 a.m. in front of Kissner.
Comments
It all starts with the board, their staff, their sub contractors, the sub's drivers. All are the board's subordinates, and all are the responsibility of the board. Neglect is neglect, and the board is ultimately the responsible party.
Sincerely,
Citizen David F. Bradley Sr.
There are many qualified licensed drivers well into their 90's. Everyone is an individual.
Dude or dude-ette, you need to reread you comment referencing driving at 75. Shame on you for making such an insensitive remark, makes me wonder what other prejudices you hold. You are welcome to have and openly express your opinion in America, and I am free to expose it as immoral, irrational and obtuse. Good for you, and have a nice day.
Sincerely,
Citizen David F. Bradley Sr.
The accountability of every student is critical, it takes a team. Teachers are a critical part of that team. This failure needs a full review, and the risks mitigated.
Seventy five is young. This sounds more of a training issue. This is more of an idea of 'right hand clear' technique and attitude, to actively look for students as if they are incapacitated.
Hold him accountable, but if he is making ends meet at 75, giving back to a community as a bus driver we should also review the School tax system that makes home owners forever on the hook for mismanagement found on the school boards.
Sincerely,
Citizen David F. Bradley, Sr.
Teachers get paid enough to be professionals. Salary, benefits, nice hours, holidays, Summers off etc. The students need to be tracked and accounted for at every moment. Head counts, attendance etc. These are all in the PA School Code.
Please read it before you use the 'good ole boy' answer of teachers are perfect. Most are great, but like the bus driver, everyone needs to provide checks and balances since we are all human. It needs to be managed by putting checks and balances in the system.
The board has all the responsibility, the teacher, driver, IU, are all under the board of directors. The buck stops with the board.
Sincerely,
Citizen David F. Bradley Sr.