The bus matron who knowingly left a mentally disabled man on a bus overnight was arrested and fired. Ed Wynn Rivera, who suffers from cerebral palsy and is unable to communicate, was found after 17 hours of sitting in the bus (which was parked at a Brooklyn depot), freezing and still strapped to his seat. And what's more, Rivera had been sitting right behind the driver.
Linda Hockaday, who had worked for Outstanding Transport, was charged with reckless endangerment. WCBS 2 reports that sources say "Hockaday admitted to knowing that Rivera was still on the bus when it was locked up on one of the coldest nights of the year. Her rationale for leaving? She apparently didn't want to be late for church." Apparently she thought someone else would notice Rivera! Only Hockaday was charged, and not the driver, because, as the bus matron, she is responsible for passenger safety.
Rivera's parents were worried when he didn't arrive back at their East Harlem home from his day program (in Tribeca) on Wednesday afternoon. They called the police, which searched the depot with K-9 and aviation units but didn't find him. According to the NY Times, "On Thursday, the police, with help from Mr. Rivera’s parents, searched another part of the depot and found Mr. Rivera in the vehicle." Rivera's sister said, "Of course we're angry ... How could you just lose a whole person? ... Now I can say honestly it is a happy New Year. I know that he's OK. My eyes are red from crying so much."
