2 children left on North Dakota school bus

As the driver exits the bus, another driver sees a child looking out a window on the bus and reports it. The child is taken off the bus and transported to school, while the second child is discovered on a later search of the same bus. The general manager for the company that runs the bus says the incident was driver error and that the driver “should have done the walk-through.”

Staff Writer・Editorial

Read Staff's Posts

January 6, 2014

1 min to read

FARGO, N.D. — Two students were left unattended on a school bus last Thursday morning after the driver failed to check the vehicle before disembarking, Park Rapids Enterprise reports.

Fargo School District No. 1 Business Manager Broc Lietz told the newspaper that the driver left the bus running in the bus yard at Valley Bus Co. As the driver exited the bus, another driver saw a child looking out a window on the door of the bus and reported that to Valley Bus. That child was taken off the bus and transported to an elementary school. The second child was discovered in a search later on the same bus.

Lietz also said that an electronic child-check reminder system on the bus didn’t engage because the bus was still running. John McLaughlin, general manager of Valley Bus, told Park Rapids Enterprise that the incident was driver error by an experienced driver, and he said that the driver “should have done the walk-through.” McLaughlin also said that he is still considering what disciplinary actions to take with the driver, and the company is going to review the child-check procedures again with all drivers.

To read the full story, click here.

Topics:North Dakota post-trip child check Safety

More Safety

A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."

Safety•by Elora Haynes•July 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Safety•by Amanda Huggett•July 21, 2026

2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing

New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•July 9, 2026

Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York

A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.

School buses at NSTA's SBDISC Roadeo with text reading "School Bus Drivers Put Their Skills to the Test."

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•June 30, 2026

NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners

Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.

The Driver Shortage Playbook

Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.