Girl, 4, struck in street

A YOUNG girl was last night in a critical condition after she was hit by a car while her dad was stopped fixing their broken down car in Hobart’s northern suburbs.

Before the accident, the four-year-old had been in the car with her dad about 1pm near Claremont. The car broke down and when the father got out to do repairs, his daughter also exited the vehicle and ran on the road into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

The girl is being treated at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD girl was in a critical condition on Tuesday night after running out on to the road and being struck by a vehicle at Claremont.

Prior to the incident, which happened about 1pm on Tuesday, the young girl was in the car with her father when their vehicle broke down on Cadbury Rd.

While the father was doing repairs, the daughter opened the car door and ran on to the road into the path of an oncoming white Ford Focus.

The car crashed into the child, who sustained critical injuries.

An off-duty doctor happened to be passing by at the time and treated the child while ambulances were called to the scene.

Several neighbours heard the crash and also came running to provide assistance.

Senior-Sergeant Karl Krelle said it did not appear as though the driver of the white car was speeding or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Sergeant Krelle (right) said investigations were ongoing, but early indications seemed to suggest it was a “tragic” accident on all sides.

He said the driver, a female in her 40s, was “extremely shaken” by what had happened and would be offered support. “It’s a tragic, tragic set of circumstances for any parent or any driver on the road,” Sergeant Krelle said.

“Children are unpredictable and we need to make sure, as drivers on the road, and as parents, that we look after our children because roadways are very dangerous.”

The girl was being treated at the Royal Hobart Hospital on Tuesday night, and her father was accompanying her.

Kaylee Alexander, who lives in the neighbourhood, was shocked to see the aftermath of the crash across from her house.

“I drove past that road just five minutes before it happened,” Ms Alexander said.

“I saw the red car was parked on the side of the road, taking up most of the lane on one side.”

Police Crash Investigation Services are investigating.

Initial preliminary analysis indicates that speed was not a factor.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Glenorchy police on 131 444.