In a gruesome incident, a three-year-old boy was crushed to death by a school bus, which was carrying his older sibling, in the city on Tuesday.
The Abdullapurmet police said the incident occurred at a bus-stop around 7.40 a.m. The victim, identified as Tanvish, sustained head injuries and died on the spot.
According to Vanasthalipuram Assistant Commissioner of Police C. Gandhinarayana, the victim’s mother went to drop her elder son, Jashwanth (5), studying at Shantiniketan School, at the bus-stop.
Unnoticed by her, the second child followed her.
“The mother of the boy was unaware that her second son had come to the bus-stop. It seems that the driver did not notice the child standing in front of the bus as he was small and was out of his sight. The bus moved ahead after the victim’s bother Jashwant boarded the bus, killing the child instantly,” Mr. Gandhinarayana said.
Driver arrested
The driver, identified as A. Anil (26), a resident of Taramatipet, is in police custody. A case under Section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC was booked against him.
Police said the accused was in possession of a valid driving licence, which permits him to operate heavy vehicles. All required documents, such as vehicle registration, were in order.
Mr. Gandhinarayana said that although the bus had an attendant on board, he too did not notice the victim.
Similar incidents
A string of similar cases were reported in recent past in the city.
In January last, six-year-old Anjali got thrown out of her school bus in Vanasthalipuram after it swerved to avoid a speed-breaker.
At Shabad in June, one-and-a-half-year-old Adiya was crushed to death by a school bus.