A four-year-old girl was crushed to death when her own mother ran over her, in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
The tragedy occured just after the little girl was dropped off at Alam Damai Kindergarten in Taman Seputih, Luyang, in the driveway of the pre-school, say Straits Times and Yahoo News Singapore reports.
It is reported that two other students of the pre-school and a teacher were also injured in the incident.
Reports say that "the 36-year-old woman had just dropped off her daughter when she accidentally stepped on the accelerator pedal and rammed into the victims," as it lunged forward.
The little girl was rushed to hospital, but succumbed to her injuries around an hour after the incident occured, while the teacher, a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl were treated for their injuries.
The teacher broke her hip and reportedly has internal injuries, while the boy suffered a hip injury and the girl mental trauma.
Kota Kinabalu's police chief, Asst Comm M. Chandra said the accident can be blamed on the driver's carelessness, and that "it would be investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 that prohibits reckless and dangerous driving," say reports.
Safety ALWAYS comes first when driving with and around kids
Parents, as terrible as this incident is, it reminds us to always be aware of safety, while driving with kids in your car, or through an area where kids are present, e.g., school/ pre-school zone; near playgrounds/parks; in family-friendly neighbourhoods.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- The driveways of homes and places like pre-schools are high risk accident zones for kids. Please be extra cautious when in these areas. Many cars are fitted with reversing cameras but if your vehicle does not have one, it's worthwhile investing in one, especially if your child normally likes playing in the driveway of your home.
- Never leave children alone, in or around your car.
- "Look before you lock": Make it a habit to always open the back door to check the back seat of your vehicle before you step out of it. Ensure you are not leaving a child behind. Place an item of importance -- like your handbag -- in the back seat, as a reminder if needed.
- Keep your car locked at all times, even if in your own driveway or garage. Never let your children play with or have access to your car keys.
- Be very careful during busy times, schedule changes and periods of crisis or holidays, as these are the times when tragedies can occur.
*Safety tips adapted from KidsAndCars.org.
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