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Three-year-old boy dies after being left inside 117-degree bus, daycare driver gets charged

62-year-old Maurice Mitchell was arrested on Tuesday, 23 July after being indicted by a grand jury on a charge of injury to a child by recklessly causing serious bodily injury or death
PUBLISHED JUL 25, 2019

Houston: A former bus driver has been arrested and charged over the death of a three-year-old boy who was left in a hot vehicle outside a Houston daycare for hours last year.

62-year-old Maurice Mitchell was arrested on Tuesday, 23 July after being indicted by a grand jury on a charge of injury to a child by recklessly causing serious bodily injury or death, the Daily Mail reports.

On July 19, 2018, Raymond 'RJ' Pryer Jr lost his life after spending more than four hours inside the bus as its interior reached temperatures of 117 degrees.

On July 19, 2018, Raymond 'RJ' Pryer Jr lost his life after spending more than four hours inside the bus as its interior reached temperatures of 117 degrees. (Facebook)

According to the report, Mitchell had taken the three-year-old and his classmates at Discovering Me Academy on a field trip Doss Park, before bringing them back to school between 2.30 and 3 pm the same day.

The boy's father arrived at the school at around 7 pm to pick him up, only to find the staff was looking for him. Unfortunately, RJ's lifeless body was found inside the bus after some time.

Mitchell had reportedly failed to ensure his vehicle was empty before disengaging a passenger safety alarm meant for those who might be left behind in the bus.

According to KHOU, the daycare has been cited multiple times in the past for not installing technology in its vehicles to ensure drivers checked the entire bus before getting off.  

The said technology sounds an alarm once ignition has been turned off, and can only be switched off upon reaching the back the of vehicle, thereby making sure no child is accidentally left behind.

The daycare has had its operating license revoked since Raymond's untimely demise according to ABC Houston station KTRK.

Now, the child's parents are suing Discovering Me Academy for failing to install that technology despite prior citations, 

Raymond's parents described him as an "amazing child" who loved singing and said his favorite color was yellow.

Meanwhile, a memorial bench dedicated to the memory of RJ was unveiled at Doss Park Saturday morning, one day after the anniversary of the boy's tragic death.

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