Driver charged for leaving 5-year-old on bus

The Sanger, Texas, school bus driver is arrested and faces charges of abandonment and endangerment of a child criminal negligence in last week’s incident. The boy boarded the bus in the morning and wasn’t discovered until the afternoon.

Staff Writer・Editorial

Read Staff's Posts

September 4, 2013

1 min to read

SANGER, Texas — A bus driver for a local school district was arrested and charged with abandonment and endangerment of a child criminal negligence for leaving a student on a bus for several hours, Denton Record-Chronicle reports.

Police told the newspaper that the 5-year-old boy was dropped off by his father at the bus stop in the morning, and the boy boarded his bus. Driver Charles Alfred Renz of Sanger Independent School District reportedly completed his shift and brought the bus back to the district’s transportation facility with the child still on the bus.

A football coach then went to the facility to pick up the bus to bring it to one of the district’s high schools in the afternoon, and while the bus was parked at the school, someone found the kindergartner on the bus. The district issued a statement on Friday stating that the incident is being investigated. Renz was released from jail on Saturday after posting $7,500 bond.

To read the full story, click here.

Other news related to this topic:

• Flag system shows that bus has been checked

• Mayor resigns as bus driver after missing sleeping boy

Topics:post-trip child check Texas Safety

More Safety

Graphic titled "NSC Award Winners" featuring two group photos of National Safety Council award recipients. One group holds an "Our Driving Concern Employer Traffic Safety Award" banner, while the other poses with a recognition plaque at the 2026 Texas Traffic Safety Conference.

Safety•by Amanda Huggett•August 4, 2026

How Two Texas Districts Built Award-Winning Safety Programs

Learn how Prosper ISD and Rockwall ISD earned National Safety Council honors through hands-on training, safety culture, and strategies that reduced transportation incidents.

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.