School in mourning after girl, 4, is killed by reversing car
A school principal has spoken about the death of a four-yearold girl who was hit by a car outside her school in Dubai.
Insiya Vajihi and her mother were hit by a reversing vehicle in the car park of Greenfield International at 3.40pm on Monday.
Dubai Police said the woman driver stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake.
It is understood she is a hired driver and not a parent. Officers are investigating and have not said whether any action has been taken yet.
“We can now sadly confirm that our student, Insiya Vajihi, was tragically killed in the accident and her mother sustained multiple fractures and is now recovering in hospital,” principal Allan Weston said in a letter to parents yesterday.
“Words cannot describe how difficult this time is for the school community. We are doing all that we can to provide support as we help each other through this most difficult of times.”
The principal said the school had provided counselling for children and staff.
“We also have psychologists from The LightHouse Arabia on site to help provide guidance on how to communicate, counsel and support our primary and secondary students through this tragic period of grief and mourning,” he wrote.
“I want to thank the many parents who have made contact with us, both last night and this morning, offering words of sympathy and support as well as suggestions for ways, that we as a school
community, can best cope with the grief this tragedy has brought to our community.
“I know you will join me in offering our sincere condolences to the Vajihi family and friends of Insiya.
“This is an incredibly sad day for our community. I know that, given all the offers of support and sympathy from you that the strength of our community will help us, and particularly our students, through these most difficult of times.”
Andrew Mitchell, head of the primary school at Greenfield, said: “It is obviously a difficult time for our community. I appreciated the words and messages of support from the school community this morning and our thoughts remain very much with the Vajihi family at this time.”
After the accident on Monday, parents were highly critical of the way some drivers behave around schools across the city.
Andreia Souza wrote: “Daily I see parents using cars as weapons when I drop my kids at school, even when putting their own kids at risk. I’m sorry for the mother who lost her kid in such a tragic accident.”