Rockland Post Desk
MONSEY, NY — A young child remains in critical condition following a school bus incident earlier this week in Monsey, as concerns continue to grow over school transportation safety throughout Rockland County.
According to the Ramapo Police Department, officers were dispatched just after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, to Main Street after reports of an unconscious child in the roadway. Police said the child fell from the rear emergency door of a moving school bus, which investigators believe was accidentally activated from inside while the bus was in motion.
Rockland Hatzolah paramedics were among the first medical responders on scene and transported the child to Westchester County Medical Center, where the child remains hospitalized as of Friday, Jan. 16.
Police confirmed that a vehicle traveling behind the bus was able to stop in time and did not strike the child.
The incident has been widely reported by News 12 and other media outlets. Authorities have not released the child’s name, citing privacy protections for minors, and have not identified the school, school district, or bus operator involved. The investigation remains ongoing.
Transportation Concerns Resurface Countywide
The serious incident has renewed attention on long-standing concerns over school bus operations in Rockland County, an issue that has dominated recent school board meetings across multiple districts.
Parents and residents have raised repeated complaints about:
Driver shortages
Overcrowded buses
Long and inconsistent routes
Limited supervision of younger students
Older buses and maintenance concerns
Several speakers at recent meetings warned that transportation problems have gone beyond inconvenience and now raise serious safety questions.
“This didn’t come out of nowhere,” one parent said after a recent board meeting. “Transportation has been a problem for a long time, and families have been warning that something bad was going to happen.”
Officials Defend Safety Efforts
County and district officials have acknowledged transportation challenges while also defending existing safety measures.
County leaders have pointed to the school bus stop-arm camera enforcement program, saying it has reduced dangerous passing incidents and improved driver behavior. Supervisors have noted that most motorists who receive citations do not reoffend, which officials say demonstrates increased awareness and compliance around school buses.
School administrators have also cited staffing shortages and regional driver shortages as contributing factors, while emphasizing that transportation departments continue to review routes, training, and safety procedures.
Still, some residents argue that enforcement programs and explanations do not address conditions inside buses, particularly for younger students.
“Cameras don’t stop what happens on the bus itself,” one resident said. “Parents want to know that buses are properly staffed, supervised, and maintained.”
Community Waiting for Answers
As of Friday, officials have not announced any new safety reviews or policy changes directly tied to the Monsey incident. Many families say they are waiting to see whether the investigation leads to concrete changes, not just statements.
“A school bus should be the safest place a child is all day,” a local resident said. “People are looking for reassurance — and action.”
Further updates are expected as the investigation continues.