Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Public Schools have launched an independent investigation into school transportation safety after a 5-year-old was struck and killed by a bus in the city’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Up Academy Dorchester kindergartener Lens Arthur Joseph was struck and killed by his school bus on April 28 near the intersection of Washington Street and Glenwood Avenue. Boston Public Schools bus driver Jean Charles was behind the wheel and was driving on an expired school bus certificate, which he had been notified about. “We are heartbroken,” Wu said. “No family should ever suffer the loss of a child, and the public deserves a full understanding of how this could have happened and what changes are needed.”Natashia Tidwell, a former federal prosecutor and police officer, who specializes in external investigations, will lead the independent review of safety policies and performance under the contracts with Transdev, the transportation company that contracts with BPS to provide transportation services.The investigation will include a review of existing safety policies and performance, including under the bus driver collective bargaining agreement, and make recommendations to strengthen safety measures, Wu said.After learning that Charles had been operating since December 2024 with an expired credential required to work as a bus driver, Transdev conducted an audit of all drivers to ensure appropriate and valid credentials and pulled seven drivers off the road until it was determined that their credentials were current, Wu said. Charles was placed on leave after the crash, and Transdev moved to terminate his employment; however, he resigned on May 14, prior to his termination hearing.On April 28, Charles was assigned an additional route as a substitute driver to cover an early release from Up Academy Dorchester. During the route, Charles hit another vehicle and failed to notify a Transdev safety supervisor, who would have decided whether the driver would complete the route or be replaced, in violation of protocol. Instead, Charles continued on the route without notifying Transdev, Wu said, and missed the turn onto Glenwood Avenue, where Lens Joseph lived, and instead arrived at the intersection with Glenwood Avenue by turning onto Washington Street, where the child was struck.Charles had been employed as a bus driver since May 2023 and was assigned a regular daily route. Transdev said Charles’ driving record over the last two years includes four minor incidents prior to April 28, including two earlier in April 2025, after which Transdev pulled Charles off the road for two days for retraining. These include contact with a parked vehicle (May 22, 2024), contact with another car’s rear tire (Dec. 3, 2024), contact with another car’s bumper (April 9, 2025), and contact with another vehicle’s side mirror (April 14, 2025). Transdev has been contracted by BPS since 2013 to hire, train and manage the district’s approximately 750 school bus drivers and maintain and operate the district’s fleet of school buses. The investigation will include a review of existing safety policies and performance, including under the bus driver collective bargaining agreement, and make recommendations to strengthen safety measures, Wu said. Transdev is also bringing in additional safety staff to accelerate regular refresher training of all drivers on pickup, drop-off, and crash protocols. As part of regular safety meetings, BPS Transportation will now require additional reports from Transdev on licensure, training renewals and post-crash driver protocols.Wu said there are approximately 400 incidents per year involving a BPS school bus, generally one or two per day across the fleet, most of which involve minimal damage. Earlier this week, Boston City Councilors Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy called for a full review of how Boston Public Schools hire, train and certify bus drivers.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Public Schools have launched an independent investigation into school transportation safety after a 5-year-old was struck and killed by a bus in the city’s Hyde Park neighborhood.
Up Academy Dorchester kindergartener Lens Arthur Joseph was struck and killed by his school bus on April 28 near the intersection of Washington Street and Glenwood Avenue.
Boston Public Schools bus driver Jean Charles was behind the wheel and was driving on an expired school bus certificate, which he had been notified about.
“We are heartbroken,” Wu said. “No family should ever suffer the loss of a child, and the public deserves a full understanding of how this could have happened and what changes are needed.”
Natashia Tidwell, a former federal prosecutor and police officer, who specializes in external investigations, will lead the independent review of safety policies and performance under the contracts with Transdev, the transportation company that contracts with BPS to provide transportation services.
The investigation will include a review of existing safety policies and performance, including under the bus driver collective bargaining agreement, and make recommendations to strengthen safety measures, Wu said.
After learning that Charles had been operating since December 2024 with an expired credential required to work as a bus driver, Transdev conducted an audit of all drivers to ensure appropriate and valid credentials and pulled seven drivers off the road until it was determined that their credentials were current, Wu said.
Charles was placed on leave after the crash, and Transdev moved to terminate his employment; however, he resigned on May 14, prior to his termination hearing.
On April 28, Charles was assigned an additional route as a substitute driver to cover an early release from Up Academy Dorchester. During the route, Charles hit another vehicle and failed to notify a Transdev safety supervisor, who would have decided whether the driver would complete the route or be replaced, in violation of protocol.
Instead, Charles continued on the route without notifying Transdev, Wu said, and missed the turn onto Glenwood Avenue, where Lens Joseph lived, and instead arrived at the intersection with Glenwood Avenue by turning onto Washington Street, where the child was struck.
Charles had been employed as a bus driver since May 2023 and was assigned a regular daily route. Transdev said Charles’ driving record over the last two years includes four minor incidents prior to April 28, including two earlier in April 2025, after which Transdev pulled Charles off the road for two days for retraining.
These include contact with a parked vehicle (May 22, 2024), contact with another car’s rear tire (Dec. 3, 2024), contact with another car’s bumper (April 9, 2025), and contact with another vehicle’s side mirror (April 14, 2025).
Transdev has been contracted by BPS since 2013 to hire, train and manage the district’s approximately 750 school bus drivers and maintain and operate the district’s fleet of school buses.
The investigation will include a review of existing safety policies and performance, including under the bus driver collective bargaining agreement, and make recommendations to strengthen safety measures, Wu said.
Transdev is also bringing in additional safety staff to accelerate regular refresher training of all drivers on pickup, drop-off, and crash protocols. As part of regular safety meetings, BPS Transportation will now require additional reports from Transdev on licensure, training renewals and post-crash driver protocols.
Wu said there are approximately 400 incidents per year involving a BPS school bus, generally one or two per day across the fleet, most of which involve minimal damage.
Earlier this week, Boston City Councilors Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy called for a full review of how Boston Public Schools hire, train and certify bus drivers.
