Teacher charged over coma girl

Teacher charged over coma girl

A teacher has been charged with recklessness after allegedly leaving a 3-year-old girl in a school van in the sweltering heat for hours, sending the kindergarten pupil into a coma.

Police on Thursday pressed recklessness charges against Daoruang Srisamung, 37, a teacher at Anongvet Kindergarten School in tambon Phreaksa Mai of Samut Prakan's Muang district, for serious injuries caused to one of her kindergarten students.

Manassanan Thongphu, 3, the kindergarten student, was found unconscious in the van about 1.30pm by driver Santiparb Wanjai, also a teacher. The girl was sent to a hospital. She was found to be suffering from swelling of the brain, and remains in a coma.

The girl was among 13 students in the van, to which Ms Daoruang was assigned as a caretaker. The girl was picked up from her house about 7.30am on Wednesday, and was found in the same van six hours later.

Ms Daoruang told police that all students, including Manassanan, left the van after it arrived at the school at 9.45am.

She claimed the girl might have left her schoolbag in the van and returned to collect it. She did not notice when the girl re-entered the van.

However, police say the teacher's account is contradictory, as she also claimed she had locked the van's door after everyone left in the morning.

The girl's mother, Rattana Nakhonsopha, 34, said she was not convinced her daughter had left her schoolbag in the van. She believes her daughter may have fallen asleep inside the van and Ms Daoruang failed to see if anyone was left behind.

Police on Thursday also summoned driver Mr Santiparb to hear recklessness charges, but he failed to show up. He contacted officers later to let them know he would acknowledge the charges.

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