Hokitika bus driver charged Bus driver charged after boy was trapped, dragged

Photo / file

A Hokitika bus driver has been charged after six-year-old primary schoolboy became jammed in a bus door and dragged along a road.

The incident near Hokitika last month, left the St Mary's Primary School pupil with minor injuries.

West Coast police response manager senior sergeant Phil Barker today confirmed the driver of the Ritchies school bus had been charged with careless driving causing injury.

Inquiries were ongoing, Mr Barker said.

The March 19 incident happened on a rural run while ferrying pupils home from Hokitika schools.

The mother of the boy reported her son was trapped by his head and arm inside the bus when the door closed and the driver took off.

"His feet were dragging and scraping along the road," the mother said at the time.

The bus apparently stopped after moving about 3-4m. The boy received only scrapes and bruises.

At the time, St Mary's Primary School principal Karen Payne confirmed the incident but declined further comment, noting the school's obligations to report the incident to the appropriate authorities.

-Greymouth Star