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Police want to speak to a boy who was a passenger on a bus that hit a 12-year-old girl, leaving her critically injured.
The girl was hit in the Auckland suburb of Mt Wellington about 7.20am.
Inspector Cornell Kluessien said the girl was hit on Barrack Rd.
"The bus stopped initially but then carried on," Mr Kluessien said.
Mr Kluessien said police had tracked down the driver and were keeping an open mind about his actions.
"We're not sure if there was anything sinister about it," he told NZPA.
"We won't know until we've interviewed him. We think he was more focused on getting to the next stop on time rather than preserving evidence, but we're keeping an open mind on that," Mr Kluessien said.
Newstalk ZB reported that police believe the driver may have seen the girl being treated by other people before driving on.
NZ Bus spokeswoman Siobhan O'Donovan confirmed that the bus was owned by NZ Bus and was a Waka Pacific Bus - formerly branded as Stagecoach.
General manager Zane Fulljames said the company is working with the police to find out what happened.
"Waka Pacific is extremely concerned about this incident and our thoughts are with the family," said Mr Fulljames.
Police say they want to speak to a boy aged between 12 and 13 years-old who was a passenger on the bus.
The boy is described as fair skinned, of a large build and he was wearing blue shorts and a light blue top, according to a statement from police.
The boy got on the bus on Mt Wellington Highway just before the Countdown Supermarket and was transferred to another bus just after the collision.
Barrack Rd was closed for two and a half hours but was reopened shortly before 10am.
- NZHERALD ONLINE
