Special needs child left on bus

A child neglect investigation has been launched after a 7-year-old girl with cerebral palsy was left unattended on a bus for several hours Tuesday.

Police were notified about the incident by a social worker at OU Children’s Hospital. Investigators determined that the girl, who uses a wheelchair, was picked up at her day care in Del City about 7:55 a.m. Tuesday.

A bus driver and bus monitor typically take the girl, and other children, and drop them off at different schools. The girl was the only child not dropped off at a school, according to a news release.

The bus was taken back to the Mid-Del School District’s transportation lot, where it was parked for several hours. The driver and monitor later returned to the bus where they found the girl.

Police said the driver and the monitor took the girl back to the day care, but did not notify school officials, parents or medical personnel. Day care workers reported the child had a soiled diaper, was tired and appeared to be dehydrated.

The girl’s mother was notified and took the girl to the hospital.

Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes said the girl was left on the bus at least five hours.

Mid-Del School District officials said the bus driver and bus monitor have been suspended pending an investigation. District policy requires the bus driver to walk the length of the bus at the end of the route to ensure no bus riders remain.