Girl dies after trapped under car

Members of the Sikh community are gathering in Wainuiomata to support the family of a girl who died after being trapped under a car.

Hutt and City Taxis staff member Dharmen Krishnan said the death yesterday was a huge shock to everyone at the company, where the girl’s father was a senior figure.

‘‘We will support him ... It is very sad for him.’’

Krishnan said he had seen the father on Wednesday, and he had been in good spirits, celebrating the graduation of another daughter.

Members of the Sikh community and taxi company would be gathering at the house, in the Lower Hutt suburb’s Manurewa Grove, to support the family.

Police said the ‘‘tragic accident’’ happened just after midday.

Fire and Emergency units attended as well as police and Wellington Free Ambulance.

The girl was removed from beneath the car on the private driveway, and tended by ambulance staff, but later died. Her death has been referred to the coroner.

An onlooker at the scene said she was alerted to what happened when she heard sirens as she was out for a walk with her baby.

She watched as the fire engines and ambulances arrived just after 12.20pm. She saw people crying in the driveway before police asked her and others to move away to give the family some privacy.

By late afternoon, a number of cars and taxis lined the grove, and Sikh men could be seen gathered at the top of the driveway where the accident happened.

The police serious crash unit was informed of the accident.