A shocking incident occurred recently at a park and ride transport interchange on Auckland’s North Shore. When a bus driver opened a suitcase hidden in the bus’s luggage compartment, he discovered a two-year-old girl was hidden alive inside. The child was extremely hot, but there were no obvious signs of physical harm. They have since been transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
The shocking find was made after the bus driver heard strange noises coming from the cargo bay. When he unzipped the suitcase, he found a young girl inside. She was still not quite three years old, so she could fly free on an adult’s lap. It is not known how long she had been stuck in the suitcase. That’s the mystery of how she got there – which still isn’t solved.
Authorities responded promptly to the situation. The girl was taken to the hospital where she was still being kept for observation as of Sunday evening local time. We hope to have more news from medical professionals in the next few days about her condition.
A Texas woman has been arrested and charged with a felony of ill-treatment or neglect of a child. This person is thought to have been the one primarily responsible for putting the girl in such a perilous circumstance. She is due in court on Monday to answer the charges brought against her.
Whether within or outside of the child welfare system, this incident has highlighted a troubling disregard for child safety and welfare. Intelligent Transportation Officials are working to understand the circumstances of this case. They’re particularly focused on identifying any systemic shortfalls that played a role in this deeply troubling incident.
