- A two-year-old baby was discovered inside a luggage compartment during a routine bus stop, leading to swift action by the driver
- Police officers responded after the incident and arrested the child’s mother, who has since been charged
- The case has raised serious questions about safety, parenting, and passenger vigilance on public transport
New Zealand: A woman was arrested on Sunday, August 3, on suspicion of child neglect after a two-year-old girl was found alive inside a suitcase in the luggage compartment of a long-distance bus.
According to police, the incident occurred during a scheduled stop in Kaiwaka, a small settlement north of Auckland.
BBC reported that the bus driver became concerned after noticing movement in a suitcase, which had been placed in the storage area. The discovery was made after a passenger requested access to the luggage compartment.
Detective Inspector Simon Harrison said the child was immediately taken to a hospital for evaluation, where she remained under medical care as of Sunday night.
“The driver became concerned when he noticed the bag moving. When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the two-year-old girl. The little girl was reported to be very hot, but otherwise appeared physically unharmed,” he said.
Authorities commended the bus driver for their quick thinking and intervention, noting that the situation could have had a tragic outcome had it gone unnoticed.
CNN added that the unnamed woman was taken into custody and charged with the ill-treatment or neglect of a child. She was expected to appear in court on Monday, August 4.
The bus company involved, InterCity, confirmed the incident occurred on one of its vehicles.
In a statement to local media, the company reiterated its policy that children under the age of three may travel for free while seated on an adult’s lap.
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