Watch CBS News

Pa. Kindergartner Stranded On Bus, Misses First Day Of School

DOUGLASSVILLE, Pa. (AP/KDKA) - A 5-year-old Pennsylvania boy missed his first day of kindergarten after being left on a school bus for nearly four hours.

The driver didn't notice that Prince Oquendo failed to get off the bus at Monocacy Elementary Center in Berks County on Tuesday. CBS Philadelphia reports the driver then returned to the bus parking lot and got off, leaving the child alone inside the locked bus.

"I cried myself to sleep," Prince said.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

Prince's mother, Michelle Oquendo, discovered him missing when he failed to come home after school.

"It was traumatizing to me. He was hot, sweaty. He didn't even know who I was at first," his mother said.

Temperatures reached the mid-80s on Tuesday, and it being cool that morning, the child was dressed in sweatpants and a jacket.

The boy was found on the bus and his mother took him to a hospital, where he was given fluids and told to rest.

Oquendo said the boy will not be boarding anymore buses anytime soon.

"I'm going to be driving him back and forth to school. I don't want him on any buses at all," she said.

The bus driver has been fired. Officials with the transportation company and the Daniel Boone School District are apologizing for the mishap.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.