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Death of 5-Year-Old in Boston Reveals Major Gaps in Transdev’s Safety Records
The death of 5-year-old Lens Joseph, hit by a school bus in Boston, has brought to light numerous fatal accidents not reflected in the company’s federal safety records. An investigation found at least 60 fatal crashes linked to or associated with Transdev, but only 18 appear under the company’s name in the federal database.
The death of 5-year-old Lens Joseph, who was struck by a school bus in Boston last year, has exposed significant gaps in Transdev’s safety record. The investigation revealed that many fatal accidents that should have been recorded under the company’s name in the federal database were instead logged under different names.
According to findings obtained by ProPublica and WBUR, Transdev has been linked to at least 60 fatal accidents over the past decade. However, only 18 of these crashes appear under the company’s name in the federal system. This means 42 fatal accidents were not recorded under Transdev’s record.
Fatal Accident in Boston
In the crash that killed Lens Joseph, prosecutors stated that the bus driver had previously collided with a postal truck, ignored a stop sign, and missed several stops. The driver then dropped the child off on the wrong side of the street in front of his home, and Lens was struck while trying to cross from the front of the bus.
The bus driver, employed and trained by Transdev for Boston Public Schools, was involved in the accident. Yet, the crash did not appear under Transdev’s name in federal safety records. Instead, the records listed the motor carrier as the Boston Motor Vehicle Management Bureau.
Why Does the Record System Hide Accidents?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) monitors commercial vehicle safety through these records. However, the agency’s method of classifying incidents only reveals a portion of a company’s fatal crashes. Accident reports often cannot be matched to the company due to different names used by responding police officers on site.
As a result, the same accident may be recorded under the name of a public agency providing the service or another contracted company rather than the bus operator. Companies are not required to claim these accidents. This prevents regulators, municipalities, and the public from seeing the operator’s true safety record.
Fatal Accidents Spread Across at Least 16 States
Data shows that fatal accidents linked to Transdev span at least 16 states. These crashes involved pedestrians, cyclists, and occupants of other vehicles. In the cases of Lens Joseph and at least two other incidents, criminal charges were filed against drivers.
The company declined to comment on individual accidents. Laura Hendricks, who oversees Transdev’s U.S. operations, also declined interview requests. In a written statement, the company asserted compliance with federal reporting standards and emphasized transparency and continuous improvement as central to its safety approach.
Gap Between Company and Agencies
Transdev stressed that reporting accidents is the responsibility of law enforcement. However, a comparison by the publications revealed a significant discrepancy between the company’s records and the official database. The company reviewed some accident lists provided to it and confirmed most matched its records but acknowledged not all were recorded.
On the federal side, silence was notable. Interview requests to FMCSA head Derek Barrs went unanswered, and questions sent were not replied to. Although the agency’s safety measurement system is public, it does not always accurately show which company is linked to each accident.
Consequences of the Hidden Record
The issue also affects previous federal reviews: if a company’s serious accidents are not fully visible, oversight cannot reflect reality. Darin Jones, a former FMCSA official, said it is impossible to determine if a carrier operates safely without a complete picture.
The investigation also disproved the impression that Transdev’s Boston school bus line had no serious accidents in the past decade. At least 71 serious crashes in Boston alone were recorded under names other than the company’s.
Experts emphasize that data accuracy is vital, especially for routes transporting school children. When accident records are incomplete, operators’ performance cannot be fully assessed in terms of public safety.
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