A small child has died after being struck by a car on a driveway in Palmerston North this afternoon.
Police were called to the incident on Terry Crescent at 1.15pm after the child was taken to hospital by family members.
“Tragically the child was unresponsive when they arrived at the hospital and was unable to be revived,” said Detective Senior Sergeant David Thompson.
The Serious Crash Unit has completed a scene examination at the property.
Thompson said officers were speaking to family members to establish the full circumstances.
“We are also working to support them following this tragic incident.”
Government figures
According to government figures, New Zealand has one of the highest rates of driveway deaths in the world.
Around 32% of child driveway injuries or deaths involve vehicles moving forward, not backwards.
About five Kiwi children die each year as a result of a driveway accidents, while another 12 are hospitalised.