Former Boston Public Schools bus driver indicted over Hyde Park crash that killed 5-year-old student
Grand jury returns homicide-related indictments tied to April 2025 school bus death
A former Boston Public Schools bus driver has been indicted in connection with a Hyde Park crash that killed a 5-year-old child during an afternoon drop-off in April 2025. The indictments mark a major development in a case that prompted city scrutiny of school transportation safety and the oversight of Boston’s contracted bus operations.
The Suffolk County grand jury returned three indictments against Jean Charles, 39, of Brockton: involuntary manslaughter, reckless motor vehicular homicide, and negligent motor vehicle homicide. An arraignment is scheduled for March 26, 2026, in Suffolk Superior Court.
What prosecutors allege happened on Washington Street
The child, Lens Arthur Joseph, was a kindergartener at UP Academy Dorchester and was riding the bus home with an older cousin on April 28, 2025. Prosecutors allege the bus missed the usual stop that would have allowed the children to exit on the same side of the street as their home.
Investigators say the child moved in front of the bus on Washington Street and that the driver failed to complete required safety steps to ensure the child crossed safely. Prosecutors allege the driver waited only a few seconds, did not account for the child’s location, then drove forward and ran over the child. The child was taken to Boston Children’s Hospital and was pronounced dead.
- Date of crash: April 28, 2025
- Location: Washington Street area in Hyde Park
- Charges: involuntary manslaughter; reckless motor vehicular homicide; negligent motor vehicle homicide
- Next court date: March 26, 2026 arraignment
Evidence cited and parallel civil litigation
Authorities have described the criminal investigation as incorporating multiple forms of evidence, including video from the bus camera system and eyewitness accounts. Separately, the child’s family filed a civil lawsuit in 2025 against the driver and Transdev, the company operating Boston Public Schools bus service, alleging negligence and failures in hiring, training, and supervision.
The criminal case and the civil lawsuit proceed on separate tracks, with different standards of proof and different potential outcomes.
Transportation oversight questions raised after the death
Following the fatal crash, the City of Boston initiated an independent review focused on Transdev’s performance under its school transportation contract and the school district’s oversight of safety-related obligations. That review described shortcomings in administrative systems and documentation, including record-keeping and the organization and reliability of driver training files, and issued recommendations aimed at improving compliance and safety management.
The indictments bring renewed attention to how school drop-offs are conducted on busy streets and how contractors and districts document driver qualifications, training, and safety procedures across a large transportation system.