Emirati family pardons bus driver who killed toddler

Fujairah The family of an Emirati toddler crushed to death by a school bus has pardoned the child's killer.

Amnah Rashid Al Nuaimi died last October when she was hit by the bus outside her home.

Speaking to Gulf News Wednesday, Amnah's father Rashid Al Nuaimi said all members of his family have requested he pardon the 38-year-old bus driver.

Al Nuaimi, a social specialist at the Mohammad Bin Hamad Al Sharqi Secondary School in Fujairah, said: "The money will not bring back my lovely daughter. I do not want the blood money because my daughter will not come back.

"But my family told me our daughter's blood is not for sale and to take the money instead.

"Two weeks after the incident I went to the police station and pardoned the bus driver."

He added: "Thank God for all things."

Tragedy struck at 3.30pm last October 18 when the child was playing in front of her home in the Murabah area of Fujairah.

Amnah, who would have celebrated her fourth birthday two months after the incident, was hit by the bus as its driver was reversing.

Her brother saw the bus closing in on Amnah and screamed at the driver to stop but his cries went unheard.

Amnah's father told us: "My son shouted and waived to alert the driver to avoid the accident, but it did not work." Little Amnah died instantly when she was caught under the wheels of the bus.

Black points

Lieutenant Colonel Saeed Al Yamahi, head of the media section at Fujairah Police, told Gulf News the bus driver only realised what had happened when he heard screaming and shouting.

He then stopped to investigate but it was too late.

Amnah was the youngest in her family and is survived by two sisters and four brothers.

Mohammad Suhail Saeed, Director General of the Emirates Transport (ET) branch on the Eastern Coast, confirmed the driver has since been sacked as he had 20 black points on his record.

Saeed said: "We explain our rule to anyone who joins Emirates Transport, if they gain 20 black points then their service will be terminated.''

The Fujairah court has sentenced the driver to a Dh1,000 fine and blood money of Dh100,000.

He will also have to fast for two months according to Sharia.

Saeed said: "Working with school buses is sensitive work as it deals with students of different ages. It would be difficult to keep the driver in the same position as he might recall the accident and that could lead to another disaster."