Jerusalem police rescued a five-year old girl from a minibus in the Talpiot neighborhood of the capital Sunday afternoon after the driver apparently forgot her in the vehicle and went shopping in a nearby store.
Passersby notified police that a child had been left in the vehicle and was in danger of becoming seriously dehydrated.
A police unit was quickly dispatched to the scene. Officers smashed one of the minibus’ windows to reach the door lock during the rescue.
The young girl was crying hysterically by the time police came to rescue her, but was comforted by a female officer after being taken out of the vehicle.
Officers later found the driver of the minibus and detained him for questioning.
The driver, who was returning children home from day camp, had forgotten the five-year old girl in the vehicle and left her there alone as he went shopping on Derech Beit Lehem in Talpiot.
Police are currently investigating the driver for negligence, while working with child welfare services to locate the girl’s parents.
“Only by a miracle was the girl found relatively quickly and removed from the vehicle without suffering any injuries," a statement from the police read. "The citizens’ alertness and the quick response of the officers saved her life.”