GLASTONBURY, Conn. — A school bus driver here has been fired and is facing charges related to allegedly leaving a student with special needs on a school bus, NBC Connecticut reports.
On June 29, Guillermo Garcia, who had been a bus driver for Access Transportation, allegedly left a 6-year-old boy on the bus alone, investigators believe, for half an hour, according to the news source. Police said that the boy was asleep on the bus when Garcia returned to the bus yard, and he apparently didn’t realize that the student was still on the bus when he parked it and left the yard. A school bus company employee walked past the bus, heard the boy crying, and found him on the bus, Glastonbury Police Sgt. Corey Davis told NBC Connecticut.
Garcia is charged with risk of injury to a minor and second-degree reckless endangerment, according to the news source.
Holly Annino, director of Access Transportation, told NBC Connecticut that the company has a policy that requires drivers to check their bus once right after a run is complete and again when they come back to the bus yard, and that surveillance video shows Garcia did not follow that protocol. Access Transportation held an emergency safety meeting the morning after the incident and reviewed it with staff members, and contacted the family and the Wethersfield Board of Education to apologize, Annino told the news source. The company also posted a reminder for drivers of the importance of checking for sleeping students on its Facebook page.
School Bus Driver Accused of Leaving Special-Needs Student on Bus
Video reportedly shows that the Connecticut driver did not conduct a child check and left a 6-year-old alone on the bus. He is charged with risk of injury to a minor and second-degree reckless endangerment.
More Special Needs Transportation
What Transportation Gets Wrong About Wheelchair Securement (And How to Fix It)
Brianna Pauwee, product application specialist at AMF Bruns of America and a wheelchair user shares practical securement and training insights, plus why she launched the “Beyond Mobility” podcast. The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.
Read More →
Keeping Up With Special-Needs Training & Standards: What Districts Need To Know in 2026
As the number of students with disabilities and IEPs rises nationwide, transportation teams face growing pressure to stay compliant, confident, and trained. Explore what’s evolving and how to stay on top of it all.
Read More →
How Supplemental Transportation Helps Close Driver Gaps
Ongoing driver shortages nationwide are forcing tough transportation decisions. See how districts are using supplemental transportation to maintain coverage for high-needs students.
Read More →
Announcing 2026 Special-Needs Driver of the Year Nominations
Honoring the exemplary accomplishments of school bus drivers transporting students with disabilities, AMF Bruns of America’s ninth annual National Special-Needs School Bus Driver of the Year Award series is open for nominations!
Read More →
Special-Needs Transportation Shifts in 2026: More Riders, More Tech, New Pressures [Survey Report]
What’s changing in special-needs transportation? Operators report a rising need, easing driver shortages, growing tech adoption, and emerging challenges. Details here! Survey sponsor: AMF Bruns of America.
Read More →
New Jersey Legislature Approves Special Education Transportation Task Force
The state moves to review special education transportation policies following safety concerns raised by families and advocates.
Read More →3 New Ways Fleet Software Pays: ROI opportunities for modern fleet managers
Keeping buses safe, reliable, and on schedule requires more than manual processes. This eBook explores how modern fleet software supports school transportation teams with automated maintenance scheduling, smarter video safety tools, and integrated data systems. Discover practical ways fleets are reducing breakdowns, improving safety, and saving valuable staff time.
Read More →
Why Student Privacy Matters in Special-Needs School Transportation
Learn more about what federal law really allows when sharing special-needs information with bus drivers and aides while protecting student privacy.
Read More →
AMF Bruns Celebrates 2025 Special-Needs School Bus Driver of the Year
Julio Ospina, a SPED driver and safety trainer at Wylie ISD in Texas, was named the national winner in AMF's annual driver award series.
Read More →
Your Insights Needed: 2026 Special Needs Survey Now Open
Help shape the 2026 state of Special-Needs Transportation report! School district and contractor leaders — share your notes on ridership, equipment, and staffing by Dec. 31, 2025.
Read More →
