you left out the part about the pit bull.

Two bus company workers who left 4-year-old boy on hot bus for five hours arrested

Published: Saturday, July 23, 2011, 3:00 AM
By Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal

Jersey City police say two bus company workers who left 4-year-old boy on hot bus for five hours have been arrested and face abuse/neglect charges

Two people have been arrested in connection with Wednesday?s incident in which a 4-year-old Jersey City boy was left on a school bus for about five hours in the sweltering heat.

?Let this serve as a reminder to all persons charged with the welfare and control of children: You will be held accountable if you fail to meet and carry out your responsibilities regarding the safety and well-being of children entrusted to your charge,? Police Chief Tom Comey said.

Bus driver Lorine Balkaran, 56, was arrested yesterday and aide Kyshon Williams, 25, was arrested late Thursday, police spokesman Stan Eason said. Both are charged with fourth-degree child abuse/neglect, an offense carrying a possible 18-month prison term, although probation is more likely, officials said.

Police said the pair appears to have violated the policy of their company, Atlantic Express Bus Company, of Newark Avenue in Jersey City, by failing to check their bus to ensure no children were left aboard prior to parking it.

Carolyn Daly, a spokeswoman for Atlantic Express, said Thursday that both employees were fired following the incident. After being found aboard the bus, the special needs student was taken to an area hospital, evaluated and released, officials said.

The boy?s parents told police he was picked up at 7:45 a.m. in the northeast part of the city and was scheduled to be dropped off at School 3 on Bright Street as part of an extended school year program, officials said.

Instead, he remained on the bus until being found still seated and restrained by a seat belt at 1 p.m. by a bus company custodian who was inspecting the buses for repairs, Eason said.

Atlantic Express Bus Company is privately contracted by the Jersey City Board of Education, Eason said.

The chief commended Lt. Frank Sprague and the North District detectives for bringing the case to a quick conclusion.