(Kluang, July 15) A six or seven-year-old boy lost his life in Kluang on Tuesday afternoon after being knocked down and run over by a school bus moments after he had been dropped off near his home, in a tragedy that has prompted renewed calls for urgent improvements to school bus safety standards in Malaysia.
The incident took place at approximately 4.20pm on Jalan Bunga Raya 3 in the Taman Sri Lalang residential area of Kluang. The school bus, driven by a 36-year-old local woman, had just allowed the Year One pupil to alight when the driver began turning the vehicle to enter the road. During the turn, the bus struck the boy, who was still positioned to the left side of the vehicle on the road surface, and ran over him. He sustained a severe head injury and was pronounced dead at the scene before an ambulance arrived.
This Year One pupil killed in a school bus accident represents a devastating and preventable loss, and the circumstances of his death — occurring just steps from his front door, in the final moments of his journey home from school — have made the tragedy especially difficult for his family and the broader community to come to terms with.
The driver of the bus collapsed at the scene after witnessing the accident, overcome by the shock of what had occurred. She was taken to hospital for treatment and is currently receiving medical care. Kluang district police chief Barin confirmed that upon her discharge, she will be required to submit to a urine drug test.
Investigations are being carried out under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. Authorities have not yet commented on whether additional charges may follow pending the outcome of the investigation.
