A driver who transports small children to daycare was questioned by Tel Aviv police on Wednesday, 30 Nissan, after forgetting a 4-year-old onboard. The driver told police “Certainly I forgot him because he fell asleep”.

The child’s mother, who lives in a community in the Gezer Council, is accustomed to receiving a notification from the kindergarten teacher regarding her son being picked up for the trip back home. She received such an alert last Friday, which happened to be accompanied by sharav heat-wave conditions.

About 50 minutes after being notified her son is heading home, the mom phoned her mom to tell her that her son has yet to arrive. She told Channel 2 News “I was nervous and immediately phoned the driver to ask where he is”.

According to mom, the driver said, “I dropped him off at home”, but this was not the case. The driver is quoted then saying, “Most likely I forgot him because he fell asleep”. A few minutes later the driver called back to tell mom “your son is with me”, with her adding he apologized. Mom adds her son was brought back home sweaty and somewhat incoherent.

The mother later told authorities her son explained “The driver saved me because he opened the door”, after which she phoned the persons responsible for the transportation in the Gezer Council to inquire as to the details of the driver to file an official complaint with police.

Mom adds a police patrol arrived at her home and she gave the details in her report. She learned the driver however beat her to it, filing a report before her, changing his story. He told police the mother’s brother-in-law assaulted him. the brother-in-law was summoned for questioning by police and needless to say he and the mom are quite angry, explaining to the press “this story could have ended in a cemetery and this driver is certainly not qualified to continue in his position”.

A manager of the bus company told Channel 2 News that they do everything possible to prevent such situations. The driver in question was briefed as are all drivers, instructed to conduct a sweep of the bus before parking. He told police he did not forget the child but was assaulted by a family member and required treatment in a hospital. He filed a complaint against the family member.

It is further reported the driver was released to house arrest. The investigation continues.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)