Boston School Bus Driver Resigns After Fatal Hyde Park Crash

Jean Charles, the Boston school bus driver involved in the fatal accident that killed 5-year-old Lens Arthur Joseph in Hyde Park on April 28, resigned just before his scheduled termination hearing. Charles, who had been employed by Transdev since May 2023, was found to have an expired school bus certificate at the time of the crash—a requirement for operating a school bus in Massachusetts. Authorities revealed that after striking Lens, Charles tried to flee the scene and had also allegedly hit parked cars minutes earlier, raising concerns about procedural lapses and driver oversight. Boston Public Schools and Transdev have since begun reviewing safety protocols and are expediting refresher training for all drivers, while city officials and Lens’s family call for changes to prevent similar tragedies. The incident remains under investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office and Boston police, and there are growing demands for accountability and transparency from city leadership. Community leaders and the victim’s family emphasize that the tragedy was preventable and are advocating for stronger policies to ensure driver compliance and student safety.