Mini-van driver and company director jailed for 2003 schoolgirl incident

Daliborka Vrhovac, 13, fell out from the rear door of the vehicle onto the Regional Road, when the driver braked pushing the students in the loaded van backwards, flinging the back door open. The incident took place on October 9, 2003 at about 3pm.

The girl suffered a number of serious injuries, namely fractures, loss of all her teeth, spinal injuries, disfigurement and partial loss of hearing. She was hospitalised for a month.

There were allegedly 26 schoolchildren in the van, and was registered to carry not more than 10. The court found that Vrhovac was standing up in the van before the accident occurred, because there wasn’t enough room for her to sit down.

Company Director of Zarb Coaches Ltd Emmanuel Zarb was found responsible for sending the van of inadequate size to pick up the schoolchildren. The van was also improperly licensed and insured.

It was also alleged that the driver, Cedric Sciberras from Birkirkara, had been using a mobile phone while driving. The court said he allowed more than twice the number of allowed passengers onto the van.

For both men, the court found that a fine was not sufficient. They have both been sentenced to six months imprisonment and had their licenses suspended for up to one year after release from prison.