In a shocking incident that’s sparking outrage across New Zealand, a woman has been arrested after a 2-year-old girl was found alive inside a suitcase stored in a bus’s luggage compartment.
The discovery occurred during a scheduled stop in Kaiwaka, a small community north of Auckland. According to Detective Inspector Simon Harrison, a passenger requested access to their bag when the bus driver noticed unusual movement inside one of the suitcases. Upon opening it, the driver was stunned to find a toddler… overheated but miraculously unharmed… stuffed inside.
The child was rushed to a local hospital and remained under medical care Sunday night. Authorities have not disclosed how long the girl was trapped in the compartment or which cities the bus was traveling between.
A woman has since been arrested and charged with child neglect under New Zealand law. Her identity remains undisclosed at this time. She is expected to appear in court on Monday.
InterCity, the bus company involved, confirmed one of its vehicles was part of the disturbing situation. In a statement, the company reiterated its policy that children under 3 may ride for free if seated on an adult’s lap, making the incident even more alarming.
