Μake us preferred on Google Authorities in Chania, Crete, arrested the driver and attendant of a school bus after two 4-year-old children were left inside the locked vehicle for about four hours, without being noticed by either adult.
Police arrested the 45-year-old driver and 55-year-old attendant of a school bus operated by KTEL Chania-Rethymno, while the children’s parents filed complaints against both.
How the incident was discovered
The incident occurred around midday on Wednesday, September. 16, when the school bus completed its scheduled route from Palaiochora to the Kountoura Kindergarten in Kantanos.
The students got off the bus when it arrived at the kindergarten. However, two children remained inside the vehicle.
The absence of one of the children was discovered when the child’s mother went to the kindergarten to bring lunch. She was told that her child had not arrived at the school.
A search followed, and the driver returned to the location where the school bus had been parked in Panorama Palaiochora, in the Municipality of Kantanos-Selino.
When the bus was opened, police said both 4-year-old children were found inside.
According to police information, the school bus had remained locked from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., meaning the children were inside for about four hours.
Parents file complaints
The parents of the two children filed complaints against the driver and attendant.
A preliminary investigation is underway, and the two arrested individuals are expected to appear before the relevant judicial authorities.
Bus company removes attendant
KTEL Chania-Rethymno announced that it had decided to permanently remove the school bus attendant from the company.
According to the company’s statement, its president, Ioannis Kapsanakis, ordered her removal “not only from her duties, but generally from KTEL Chania Rethymno SA.”
The company said the explanations provided by the attendant were not accepted by management because, it said, her actions were contrary to instructions for the safe transportation of students.
KTEL Chania-Rethymno also expressed its regret over the incident and offered an “sincere apology” to the families of the two children.
