The eight-year-old was being sent to a daycare centre together with other children, but the van operator had apparently returned home without realising she was still in the van.

Seremban district police chief Mohd Said Ibrahim said the 34-year-old driver was believed to have been unaware the girl was still in the vehicle from 2.30pm.

The girl was found unconscious in the van three hours later before being taken to Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar in Seremban.

“The victim was an autistic child and was confirmed to have died,” Said said.

He said the van driver has been detained for further investigations.

He will be remanded under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for neglecting a child. If found guilty, he can be jailed for up to 10 years or fined a maximum of RM20,000, or both.

An autopsy will be conducted on the girl to determine the cause of death.