7-year-old special needs student disappears from school

Town of Van Buren (WSYR-TV) - Teachers and staff mobilized for a search on Thursday when a 7-year-old autistic boy disappeared from Ray Middle School.

The students were taking break from class and the boy was rolling down a hill with a classmate. When the 7-year-old reached the bottom of the hill, he sprung up and ran away.

Staff called the police and summoned staff from other schools to join in the search, which included a nearby gulf course and nearby houses.

The child was finally located after an hour when an ATV rider saw him. The rider contacted help and the boy was returned to his parents uninjured.

"It was a very scary time," said Baldwinsville Superintendent Jeanne Dangle.

The school district is investigating whether or not any personal errors led to the incident and will take measures to make sure those errors are never duplicated.