Woman allegedly left child in hot kindergarten bus in Oviedo

OVIEDO, Florida. – A 49-year-old woman is accused of leaving a sleeping child in a hot kindergarten bus for more than an hour on Monday, according to Oviedo police.

Police said they were called to All About Kidz, 38 West Broadway Street, around 3 p.m. Tuesday to investigate an open case with the Florida Department of Children and Families.

According to a police report, a child was “left alone in the daycare bus in the heat for an extended period of time.”

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During the DCF and police investigation, it was determined that the child was left sleeping on the bus, which was turned off and parked unattended in the company's parking lot, for approximately one hour and two minutes.

Investigators said 49-year-old Barbara Ledbetter did not check the bus after she arrived at the daycare and dropped the children off.

The report says she must personally go to the back of the bus and visually inspect the seats, which she allegedly failed to do. Ledbetter is also accused of signing a log stating that she had inspected the bus.

According to the police report, the child fell asleep on the bus and did not notice that the other passengers had gotten off. He later woke up “very hot” and with breathing difficulties.

A parent walking by the bus noticed the child banging on a window, the report said.

Police say Ledbetter was arrested and taken to the Seminole County Jail. She is charged with child neglect without serious bodily harm and has since been released on bail.

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