Six-year-old injured when hit by truck
‘‘I had no chance to stop. The child ran out in front of the vehicle.’’ Driver
A 6-year-old girl is in a serious condition after being hit by a truck in Palmerston North.
Bystanders rushed to help her after the impact and said she was conscious at the scene.
She was struck near the intersection of Katene St and Park Rd in the suburb of West End just after 10am, Sergeant Pete West said.
The girl was taken to Palmerston North Hospital in a serious condition.
City council worker Rawiri Royal, who was at the scene, knows first aid and went to help the girl after seeing other bystanders pull her off the road.
‘‘I took over and put her in recovery position.’’
The girl was responsive and knew her name and age, he said.
‘‘The ambulance was here in less than five minutes – at least it didn’t feel like longer.
‘‘I’ve got a 6-year-old as well. I’m just a bit upset at the moment.
‘‘She was following her two younger brothers. She got caught behind her brothers and in front of the truck.’’
They should have crossed at the crossing provided rather than at the intersection, he said.
Another witness said the girl went ‘‘completely underneath [the truck] from one end to another’’.
The driver of the white truck, who was still in shock, said he had never experienced an incident like this in 60 years.
‘‘I had no chance to stop. The child ran out in front of the vehicle.’’