Charges filed against Goodyear driver who left autistic teen on bus

PHOENIX — Goodyear Police announced Thursday they have filed charges against a driver who left an autistic teenager on a bus in July.

Spokeswoman Lisa Berry said Diana Salgado-Gutierrez, 36, of Buckeye was charged with child abuse and endangerment.

Salgado-Gutierrez was responsible for driving the nonverbal 16-year-old to Precious Home Services, a day care for disabled children near Central Avenue and Van Buren Street.

According to police, she took several students to the day care July 9 but failed to follow exit procedures after parking, which includes checking each row.

After three hours, the child was found on the bus by his mother and day care staff.

The teenager was taken to the hospital for heat-related issues and was released.

The temperature that day at noon was 97 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

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