Bus Driver Charged After Allegedly Leaving Ridgewood Man Asleep in Garage

Officials say a Bergen County bus driver is likely to be fired after leaving a developmentally disabled Ridgewood man on an empty bus in a Lodi garage for three hours Tuesday afternoon, NJ.com reported.

The 34-year-old man reportedly fell asleep on the bus and woke up around 6 p.m. The driver, whose name was not released, allegedly violated county transportation policies when she failed to drop him off at home or check the bus before leaving the garage.

After three hours alone on the bus, Lodi and Bergen County Police freed the man through a wheelchair exit, according to the report.

The driver, a 54-year-old Garfield woman, was charged with a disorderly persons offense following the incident, according to Northjersey.com.

Jeanne Baratta, the chief of staff to Kathleen Donovan, told NJ.com that the Bergen County executive intended to fire the driver. She is suspended without pay pending a disciplinary hearing.