KAIWAKA, NEW ZEALAND — A two-year-old girl was found alive in a suitcase stored in a bus luggage compartment, prompting a woman’s arrest on charges of neglect, authorities said Sunday.
The unsettling discovery was made during a planned stop in Kaiwaka, about 60 miles north of Auckland, after a passenger requested access to the luggage compartment.
The bus driver noticed movement inside the bag and opened it to find the toddler.
According to Detective Chief Simon Harrison, the girl was “very hot, but otherwise appeared physically unharmed.”
She was rushed to a hospital for an extensive medical assessment, where she remained Sunday.
The 27-year-old woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was taken into custody and charged with ill-treatment or neglect of a child.
Authorities have not ruled out additional charges.
Investigation and Response The woman is scheduled to appear in court Monday, and children’s services have been notified.
Entrada Travel Group, which operates New Zealand’s national bus line InterCity, confirmed the incident involved one of its buses.
In a statement, the company noted that police were called to respond and are investigating the matter.
No one was harmed during the incident, and the service resumed.