By Tiffany Williams –
On Friday morning, the city of Boston disclosed that Natashia Tidwell, an attorney with Mintz and a former federal prosecutor and police officer, will spearhead an independent review of safety policies and performance concerning Transdev, the global transportation company contracted by Boston Public Schools (BPS) for transportation services.
The Mayor’s office stated early Friday, “The decision to initiate an independent review follows the tragic death of Lens A. Joseph, a kindergartener who was struck and killed by his school bus on Monday, April 28. Transdev, which operates transportation services throughout the United States, has been contracted by BPS since 2013 to hire, train, and manage the district’s approximately 750 school bus drivers and maintain and operate the district’s fleet of school buses. The investigation will include a review of existing safety policies and performance, including under the bus driver collective bargaining agreement, and make recommendations to strengthen safety measures.”
“We are heartbroken,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “No family should ever suffer the loss of a child, and the public deserves a full understanding of how this could have happened and what changes are needed. This independent review, separate from the investigation led by BPD and the DA’s office, will closely scrutinize the Transdev contract’s safety policies and performance. We have also asked Attorney Tidwell to deliver recommendations so that this horrible tragedy is never repeated.”
The independent review will commence as BPS endeavors to enhance its safety protocols. In response to the incident, BPS has increased the frequency of regular meetings with Transdev’s safety leadership to a daily schedule, allowing for prompt discussions regarding all crashes and safety incidents, along with Transdev’s response strategies.
“We are holding Lens Joseph and his family in our prayers and are doing everything we can to support them during this unthinkable time,” said Superintendent Mary Skipper. “My team and I fully support this independent investigation of safety policies and performance under the Transdev contract. The safety of all of our students is paramount and we will ensure that any findings and recommendations from this investigation are acted on and implemented to strengthen the safety of our transportation system and the services provided by our vendor Transdev.”
Boston Public Schools witnesses approximately 400 incidents annually involving school buses, averaging one or two incidents each day throughout the fleet, with the majority resulting in minimal damage.
Following revelations that Jean Charles, the driver involved in the incident, had been operating since December 2024 with an expired credential necessary for bus drivers, Transdev promptly conducted a comprehensive audit of all drivers to verify the authenticity and validity of their credentials. As an extra precaution, the company temporarily removed an additional seven drivers from service until it was confirmed that their credentials were up to date.
In a proactive move to enhance safety, Transdev is also enlisting additional safety personnel to expedite regular refresher training for all drivers on crucial protocols related to student pickup, drop-off, and crash procedures. In addition, BPS Transportation has mandated that Transdev provide further reports concerning driver licensure, training renewals, and post-crash protocols during regular safety meetings.
On April 28, Transdev swiftly placed Charles on leave and initiated steps to terminate his employment. He ultimately resigned on May 14, prior to an impending termination hearing. Charles had been employed as a bus driver since May 2023 and was assigned a routine daily route.
Transdev disclosed that over the two years preceding this event, Charles had a driving record that included four minor incidents, two of which had occurred earlier in April 2025, prompting the company to temporarily suspend him from driving for retraining. These incidents involved minor collisions: on May 22, 2024, he made contact with a parked vehicle, on December 3, 2024, he collided with another car’s rear tire, on April 9, 2025, he struck another vehicle’s bumper, and on April 14, 2025, he brushed against a car’s side mirror.
On the fateful day of April 28, Charles was additionally assigned a substitute route to cover an early release for students from Up Academy Dorchester. During this route, he failed to notify a Transdev safety supervisor after hitting another vehicle, infringing upon established protocol that would have allowed a decision on whether to continue the route or to replace him.
Instead, Charles continued the route without informing Transdev of the collision. While navigating this route, he missed the turn onto Glenwood Avenue, where Lens Joseph resided, and instead approached the intersection with Glenwood Avenue by veering onto Washington Street, leading to the tragic outcome of that day.