A four-year-old boy has died after being struck by a car that crashed into a shopfront at Mawson shopping centre in Canberra’s south on Friday morning.
Incident during morning hours
Police said they were called to the shopping centre around 10.20 am after receiving reports that a vehicle had driven into a shopfront. Nigel Booth of ACT Policing confirmed that the child, who was a pedestrian, was hit by the car.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and provided immediate treatment before the boy was taken to Canberra Hospital. Despite medical efforts, he later succumbed to his injuries.
Driver hospitalised, probe underway
Inspector Booth said the driver of the vehicle remains in hospital and is assisting police with their enquiries. The exact cause of the crash is under investigation.
Police said a report will be prepared for the coroner, as is standard procedure in fatal incidents. Authorities have urged anyone who witnessed the crash and has not yet spoken to police to contact Crime Stoppers.
Second road fatality this year
The child’s death marks the second road fatality recorded in the Australian Capital Territory this year, police said.
The incident has left the local community shaken, with investigators continuing efforts to determine the circumstances leading to the tragic crash.