A baby died and a five-year-old child was seriously injured on Monday after both were struck by a vehicle in the carpark of Minto Mall in Sydney’s south-west, police and emergency services said.
Emergency services were called to the shopping centre at about 3:30 p.m. following reports of the collision. Police said the infant, a girl, was given CPR by officers and further treatment by paramedics but was pronounced dead at the scene. The five-year-old was treated at the scene before being taken to Westmead Children’s Hospital in serious but stable condition.
NSW Police said a 35-year-old driver was uninjured. A crime scene was established in the carpark and investigations are ongoing. Police have not yet released details about how the collision occurred and said inquiries were under way to determine the circumstances leading to the incident.
Multiple ambulance and police crews attended the scene and witnesses reported seeing a helicopter overhead. Photographs from the scene showed a badly damaged pram in the carpark near where emergency personnel were working.
Officers from the local police command remained at Minto Mall into the evening as forensic teams examined the scene and investigators sought witnesses and any available CCTV footage. Police urged anyone with information, dashcam or mobile phone footage to come forward to assist the inquiry.
The incident has prompted an outpouring of concern in the local community. Minto Mall is a busy suburban shopping centre, and the carpark is used by shoppers and families during weekday afternoon peak periods. The mall's management and representatives of emergency services had not immediately issued public statements beyond confirming emergency response and cooperation with police.
Child road trauma remains a subject of public safety attention in New South Wales and across Australia, with authorities typically reviewing circumstances of collisions involving pedestrians and vehicles to identify causal factors such as driver behaviour, vehicle malfunction, pedestrian movement and site design. Police said they would provide further updates as their investigation progressed.
The family of the children has been notified, police said. Support services were being offered by emergency personnel at the scene and by local health services. Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is asked to contact NSW Police or Crime Stoppers.