Boston city leaders are set to reveal the findings of an independent review into school transportation safety policies on Thursday, following the tragic death of kindergartener Lens A. Joseph, who was struck and killed by a school bus in the Hyde Park neighborhood on April 28. The investigation, aimed at evaluating the safety practices and operational performance of Transdev—the contracted bus provider for Boston Public Schools—was initiated in response to the incident that shocked the city.
Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. to present the results of the review. The investigation was conducted by Natashia Tidwell, an attorney with Mintz who has a background as a federal prosecutor and police officer. Tidwell was tasked with examining all safety policies and operational practices under Transdev’s contract, which has been in place since 2013, to ensure the highest standards of student safety.
Mayor Wu announced the investigation on May 23, shortly after the fatal crash that claimed the life of five-year-old Lens, a K-2 student at Up Academy in Dorchester. Lens’ family has since filed a civil lawsuit against both the bus driver involved and Boston Public Schools’ contractor, Transdev. To date, no criminal charges have been filed in connection with the incident.
The crash, captured on the bus’s dashboard camera, shows Lens being struck while attempting to cross the street in front of the bus on Washington Street in Hyde Park. At the time, he was accompanied by his 11-year-old cousin, who reportedly screamed for help immediately after the collision. Lens was rushed to Boston Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The bus driver, Jean Charles, resigned on May 14 just before a scheduled termination hearing. Charles, who had been employed by Transdev since May 2023 and driving Boston Public Schools routes for two years, was operating the vehicle on a substitute route on the day of the crash. Officials later confirmed that his state-required bus certification had expired, despite being notified previously by Transdev to renew it.
Records released by Transdev show that Charles had been involved in four minor driving incidents over the previous two years, including two earlier in April 2025. These incidents involved minor collisions with parked or moving vehicles and had prompted brief retraining periods. On the day of the crash, Charles reportedly struck another vehicle and failed to notify a safety supervisor, a violation of protocol that might have prevented him from continuing the route. He also missed a turn onto Glenwood Avenue, arriving instead at the intersection on Washington Street where the tragedy occurred.
Transdev confirmed that Charles underwent drug and alcohol testing immediately after the incident, with no substances detected. Lens’ family attorneys have stressed that the tragedy was preventable.
“This could have been, and should have been, completely avoided,” attorneys Matthew Fogelman, Alan Klevan, and Jeffrey Simons said in a statement. “We are dedicated to pursuing justice for the families involved and committed to advocating for policy changes to ensure that something so senseless never happens again.”
The forthcoming report from Tidwell’s independent review is expected to outline key findings regarding safety protocols, operational oversight, and the measures needed to prevent similar tragedies in the future. City officials have indicated that the results will guide reforms aimed at strengthening school transportation safety across Boston, with the goal of restoring public confidence and ensuring the protection of the city’s youngest residents.