A young girl has died after being hit by a car in a outside a Melbourne childcare centre.
The three-year-old, from Broadmeadows, was struck in the car park on McDonalds Road in Epping about 4.45pm on Monday, police said.
Televised footage showed a childcare care centre taped off with police and emergency services at the scene.
Detective Sergeant Daryll Out described it was a “terrible incident”.
“The incident occurred when a car accidentally struck the young girl,” he told The Herald Sun, adding he could not give further information about how it happened.
“We certainly urge anybody who’s around children to be very careful and mindful that terrible accidents such as these can occur if everyone is not paying full attention to what they are doing.” The driver of the vehicle is helping investigators.
A 26-year-old woman, also from Broadmeadows, was taken from the scene to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition.
Emergency crews were called to Kiddy Palace Learning Centre on McDonalds Rd in Epping at about 4.45pm following reports a child had been hit by a car.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said the investigation into the exact cause remains ongoing and the driver of a vehicle is currently assisting police with their inquiries.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
McDonalds Rd was closed in both directions between Meadow Glen Drive and Civic Drive following the incident.
It has now reopened and traffic is being allowed through the area.