Bus Driver Rushing to Church Leaves Disabled Man Locked in Bus Overnight
Harrowing stories of neglect are becoming commonplace–last year, a 7-year-old Ohio girl was repeatedly raped on her special needs bus, and the news has recently been full of stories about the criminal charges associated with the death of Danieal Kelly, a 14-year-old girl with cerebral palsy whose mother left her to starve and dehydrate to death in her bed. But even with stories like these popping up in the news on a regular basis, it’s almost impossible to believe the story of Ed Rivera and Linda Hockaday.
Rivera is a 22-year-old mentally and physically disabled man who attends a special needs program in New York City. Hockaday is the 51-year-old matron charged with transporting Rivera and others like him.
While most of us were celebrating the new year on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, Rivera–who has cerebral palsy–was sitting strapped into a seat in a locked bus. Rivera sat in that seat for 19 hours in bitter cold.
Lest you think that perhaps Hockaday simply made a terrible mistake, think again: Rivera is 6′2″ tall and was strapped into the seat directly behind the driver’s seat. And, Hockaday has reportedly admitted that she knew Rivera was there. Her explanation, according to CBS news, was that she didn’t want to be late for church.
Hockaday is now facing criminal charges and Rivera is in the hospital. It appears that Hockaday isn’t alone in her responsibility for this near-tragic event, either. News reports suggest that when police first went to the Outstanding Transport facility to search for Rivera, employees there didn’t bother to tell officers that there was a second bus lot. It was in that second lot that Rivera was finally located, when police returned to the facility hours later with Rivera’s entire family to continue the search.
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:34 pm
As the brother of a mentally and handicapped individual — hell, as a human being –I cannot describe how much this pisses me off. Hockaday and her colleagues deserve to be fired and imprisoned.
…and she did this because she didn’t want to be late for church? Church! Anybody else see something wrong with this picture?
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:46 pm
I’m sickened by this admission from a so-called person of “faith”. There are teachings and tenets for practices that can be recognized as universals:
dana = authentic generosity (charitable giving of the self and sharing of possessions, donation)
metta = selfless love and good will toward all beings (loving kindness)
karuna = compassion (respect, acceptance, forgiveness)
mudita = altruistic joy filled with peace and contentment (appreciative joy at the success and good fortune of others)
sila = self discipline -abstaining from physical and vocal actions that cause harm to oneself and others
uppekka = equanimity (an inclusive state of open mind free of attachment, aversion, bigotry, craving, ignorance and intolerance)
These universals are the essence of teachings of both Buddha and of Jesus. They are also found in other traditions as well. This woman needs to be relieved of her job and replaced with a human being who has a heart.
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:48 pm
It’s tragic irony — tragic and bitter irony, that’s what it is. So you locked up a disabled man, in an enclosed space, in bitter cold, to attend church? CHURCH?!
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:31 pm
This driver should prosecuted to fullest extent of the law. It takes alot of nerve leave someone physically challenged locked on a bus unable to help themselves in freezing weather to go where? To church if it wasen’t so horrible it would be hysterically funny. To think that they have the audacity to even walk into a church.
May 1st, 2009 at 9:49 pm
What makes it worse is that Hockaday’s job was specifically to assist with clearing the bus and making sure everyone got safely delivered to their destination. On finding Rivera she failed to notify the driver they had missed a delivery and ntentionally walked off the bus.
June 19th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
this is one of the most hatred action and it should be criticized by all. the driver should be punished severely.
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October 24th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
It is people like this that make christians look bad. It is obvious this person went to church to be seen of men and not for her own beliefs and salvation.
February 25th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Excellent ideas here, have emailed my mum so expect a big reply!!