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Special-needs Student, 22, left on NYC Bus all Night in Cold
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by Blue Crush | January 1, 2009 at 02:44 pm
464 views | 42 Recommendations | 14 comments
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Special-needs Student, left on NY Bus Overnight in Cold-Photo-01
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NEW YORK - A 22 year old man with cerebral palsy was left on a school bus by a driver and spent the entire frigid night alone. I know I, for one, was watching the celebrations in Times Square, and remember at one point the newscaster showed a cup of cola, which had turned to ice in about ten minutes.
Authorities said police found Edwin Rivera in a bus yard Thursday morning. He had been on the bus for 19 hours while the temperature outside dropped to around -29 C. Rivera, who cannot speak, was being evaluated at a hospital. He was expected to recover.
His parents reported him missing Wednesday evening after he didn't return home from his special-needs school. His mother, Leslie Rivera, told WCBS-TV she was "mad at the bus company for leaving him." Calls to a possible number for the bus company were picked up by an answering machine that would not accept messages.
Just last week on Christmas Eve, I read a story of two Baboons dying of exposure at a New Brunswick Zoo, because their trainer accidentally left them outside all night. I in no way am comparing the two, but I am wondering what is wrong with some people, and just how do they function in normal jobs? How can lives be "forgotten?"
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More in depth news coverage at wcbstv/com.
On Thursday night police charged a 51-year-old woman for allegedly leaving a mentally and physically challenged man -- overnight -- on a bus for 19 hours.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (14)
at 14:57 on January 1st, 2009
Oh my gosh, this is just disgusting!
I don't understand, did the bus driver know he was on there? Or did he just forget and get off and go and enjoy his new years celebration? This is awful - if I was the mother, I would be more than 'mad' at the company.
at 15:17 on January 1st, 2009
Maybe she has limited English, cause anybody would be more than 'mad.' What a sin, for this kid - whatever happened for the driver to forget - could he/she have started celebrations early? I think we'll hear more on this one.
at 15:21 on January 1st, 2009
We will have to - this story shouldn't die.
at 15:55 on January 1st, 2009
What an absolute crime. This person is entrusted with the safety of the students on this bus. How could the driver not have known that the student was still there. They are supposed to know. Either by virtue of the fact that they did not see the person exit the bus or by doing a visual check of the bus prior to parking it for the night.
at 16:03 on January 1st, 2009
I've actually moved this story to World as it fits better there, than in our strange channel, even though I understand why you placed it there in the first place.
at 16:34 on January 1st, 2009
Thanks Amy. Their family was missing him for 19 hours, while he was strapped right behind the driver's seat. There's more in depth coverage at wcbstv.com.
at 16:39 on January 1st, 2009
Then there's no way the driver just didn't see him - he is 6 ft 2! This is a dark and disturbing story indeed.
at 21:22 on January 1st, 2009
That is not only out raging but plain neglectful and irresponsible from the Bus company and its driver and both should be finned severely.
at 22:07 on January 1st, 2009
That makes me sick
at 18:18 on January 2nd, 2009
Thanks for catching this news, Blue Crush, the local news covered it quite thoroughly. The bus depot is in Brooklyn, NY.
Ed Wynn Rivera, who suffered cerebral palsy and is non-verbal. He is suffering from hypothermia and is in stable condition.
Apparently, the bus matron, Linda Hockaday has been charged with felony reckless endangerment. .
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28463877/
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/nyregion/02disabled.html?ref=nyregion
You're quite right, it was bitterly cold last night and the wind-chill factor made it painful. My friends were working last night and even with portable heaters, they had to seek indoors' warmth.
at 18:19 on January 2nd, 2009
Follow-up: Ed Rivera is recovering and doing well according to family members as reported by various local news.
The bus matron was formally charged with first and second degrees felony reckless endangerment and if convicted, she could face 7 years in prison. She was certified to care and protect special needs people and she had failed her responsibilities. She knew that Ed Rivera was asleep and didn't want the bus to retrace the route because she had an appointment, so she deliberately left the student sleep in the bus. For now, the bus driver has not been charged.
at 18:43 on January 2nd, 2009
Pythiian, that's what I don't understand ... She was the driver's helper, didn't any station say why the driver wasn't charged?
at 19:25 on January 2nd, 2009
I think one of the local news station mentioned that the Transportation Dept. is reviewing the driver's case, which means the prosecutor's office is treating as two separate cases, instead of co-mingling charges. Since the matron is a certified worker to care specifically for special needs students. The driver is not. The defense attorney for the matron is already complaining about the driver.
at 18:46 on January 2nd, 2009
She should get more than 7 years.