Bus Driver That Left 5-Year-Old On Bus Had Multiple Violations

BEVERLY, MA -- The school bus driver charged with leaving a five-year-old unattended on a bus during the first week of school in September had several traffic violations on his record but was allowed to renew his commercial driver's license last year. David Boutros, 71, of Haverhill, was in court Wednesday for an initial hearing on charges of reckless endangerment of a child.

According to the Salem News, which first reported this story, an attorney for Boutros argued Wednesday that his client should never have been charged. "My client certainly never intended for this to happen," Jack P. Milgram told a Salem District Court judge.

Last month, Beverly Police issued a summons to Boutros after completing an investigation into the incident. Boutros, according to a police report, "knowingly disregarded protocols and never checked the bus for any students" after his routes on Sept. 7, leaving a five-year-old alone on his school bus. The kindergartner sat on the bus for several hours and then injured himself when he was knocked to the ground by a car while trying to walk home.

While Boutros initially told police he had cleared his bus after driving his route, security footage showed otherwise, police said.

For more on this story, see the Salem News. Never miss another local news story: Get free local news alerts right to your inbox.

Patch file photo via Shutterstock.