Toddler found alive in suitcase on bus in New Zealand, woman arrested for neglect
A bus driver's sharp instincts may have saved the life of a two-year-old girl.
FILE: Picture: Pixabay I @Efraimstochter
Cape Talk's Clarence Ford chats to Primedia's Digital Content Editor, Barbara Friedman.
Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below:
The quick thinking of a bus driver may be the reason a toddler is still alive today.
The two-year-old girl was found alive inside a suitcase in the luggage compartment of a bus in New Zealand, sparking shock and outrage.
According to Sky News, the child was discovered during a scheduled stop.
"It's shocking...It's hard to even get my head around."
- Barbara Friedman, Primedia Digital Content Editor
Though described as "very hot," she appeared physically unharmed and was taken to hospital for further assessment.
A 27-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with child neglect in connection with the incident.
She made her first court appearance on Monday.
Court documents allege she placed the toddler in the suitcase during a bus journey from Whangārei to Auckland, actions that could have resulted in serious harm, including suffocation and heat exhaustion.
She could face further charges as the investigation continues.
"There are a million reasons that this could have happened, but just the fact that you would put a child at that kind of risk..."
- Barbara Friedman, Primedia Digital Content Editor
Scroll up to listen to the full conversation.