Manama: The death of an eight-year-old Saudi pupil who was left on a school bus is being investigated by authorities in Jeddah.
Nawaf Al Salmi was discovered unconscious on the bus by the driver at the end of the school day. Police and health experts were summoned to confirm the boy's death.
The driver, a 36-year-old Arab, was arrested and an investigation was launched, a spokesperson for the police said. The questioning of staff from the school started on Tuesday morning.
Sources told Saudi news site Sabq that the incident happened on Sunday and that the boy was left behind on the bus for six hours, causing his death by suffocation.
"Nawaf's body has been referred to the doctors upon a request from the public prosecution to determine the cause of his death and make sure there is no other criminal act," his uncle, Majed Al Salmi, said.
Another uncle said that the school had failed to ensure the safety of the pupil.
"It was gross negligence and they assume the full responsibility for what happened," Saeed Al Salmi said. "How could a driver lock a bus without making sure that all the young students had come off? He was certainly aware he was dealing with young people.
"I also wonder how the school failed to monitor its students, particularly those in the elementary section. Normally when a student does not show up for class, they send messages to parents over the matter."
He said the family was planning to file a legal case against those who he felt had caused Nawaf's death.
In his testimony to Sabq, Nawaf's older brother said that the two boarded the bus together from their house to take them to school.
"I was dropped off first in front of the intermediate section of the school," he said, quoted by Sabq.
"Nawaf was sleeping on the seat behind the driver. I was certain he would get off in front of the elementary section of the school. However, when I came out at 1 pm, I was surprised not see him. I asked about him, and I was told he was at the school clinic. I headed there, but I did not find him. A driver offered to take me home.
The brother said when he boarded the bus, he found Nawaf's shoes, bag and glasses.
He said: "There was also some saliva on the seat. I felt really dizzy, but held on until the bus reached home. My father then contacted the school and he was requested to head to the hospital."
According to Sabq, Nawaf is the third pupil to die in Jeddah as a result of private schools drivers' negligence.
A seven-year-old private school pupil died after he was left behind and locked inside a bus for more than six hours.
The second victim was a five-year-old pupil who was sleeping when all the passengers got off in front of the school and the Pakistani driver failed to notice him and locked the bus.
