Autistic Boy Left On School Bus In Catawba County

The Newton-Conover school district is reviewing procedures with bus drivers after a 9-year-old autistic student was left alone on a bus for nearly eight hours.

The district said the child fell asleep on the way to a Conover school Monday and the driver did not check the bus properly.

The school thought the child was at home sick and didn't learn of the mistake until the child's mother came to the school in the afternoon.

The driver has been suspended while the district investigates.

The child was not hurt.