Driver in crash that killed 5-year-old did not inspect Boston school bus properly, prosecutor says

Prosecutors say the driver of a Boston Public Schools bus who struck and killed a kindergartener nearly a year ago failed to perform a critical safety check of his equipment that should have taken his bus off the road that day.

At the Suffolk Superior Court arraignment of Jean Charles Thursday, prosecutor Ursula Knight also accused Charles of getting in another crash while driving with a suspended license in the aftermath of 5-year-old Lens Joseph's death. She said Charles left the scene.

Charles, 39, pleaded not guilty to charges of felony involuntary manslaughter, felony reckless motor vehicle homicide, and misdemeanor negligent motor vehicle homicide. Charles was taken into custody on $15,000 bond.

The families of both Charles and Lens crowded the courtroom during the hearing. Charles' attorney Kenneth Anderson expressed sympathy to Lens' survivors.

"Our hearts go out to the family of Lens Arthur Joseph," he said. "We can't fathom the loss that they've been through."

Knight said that had Charles conducted an inspection prior to the April 2025 crash, he'd have found the bus' crossing bar was broken and the rear left tire was flat and on its rim. It was not supposed to transport children in that condition, she said.

That afternoon, Charles missed a series of the students' designated bus stops, including Lens', Knight said. Instead, he let the boy and his older cousin off at a different location. Lens was struck while crossing in front of the bus.

"As a trained school bus driver the defendant had a special responsibility to Lens Joseph and each of the children on the bus that day," Knight said. "Deliver them to school and home safely."

Charles did not have a valid school bus driving credential when the crash took place. He resigned after the crash.

A city-commissioned audit published in August concluded Charles' employer — the school district's bus contractor, Transdev Services, Inc. — failed to conduct proper oversight over its operations. Lens' family has since sued Transdev, alleging negligence.

Correction: Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this post incorrectly spelled Lens Joseph's name. The post has been updated. We regret the error.