47 Students Endangered As Driver Stood In Aisle As Bus Sped Down Parkway, Police Say

LAKEWOOD, NJ — A Philadelphia man has been charged with 47 counts of child endangerment and multiple motor vehicle violations after he got up from his seat and stood in the aisle of the speeding bus on the Garden State Parkway, police said Wednesday.

Xiao Lei Lei Tian, 41, was arrested, Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.

Witnesses told police that Tian, the driver of the commercial bus, was speeding and failed to stay in his lane and was using his cell phone while he was driving, Staffordsmith said.

At one point stood in the aisle of the moving bus, leaving the steering wheel unattended, the witnesses told police.

The bus, carrying 47 children and three adults, was traveling from Rhode Island to a private school on River Avenue in Lakewood and was found disabled near the intersection of Cedar Bridge Avenue and New Hampshire Avenue after reportedly running out of gas, Staffordsmith said.

A Lakewood police officer who came across the bus was informed of the incident by the occupants. No injuries were reported.

Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Det. Eric Stefanelli of the Lakewood Police Department Detective Bureau at 732-363-0200 ext. 5340.