tragedy at Minto Mall: Baby Girl Dies After Car Strike in Sydney
A devastating incident at a Sydney shopping center has left a community reeling after a five-month-old girl died and a five-year-old boy was hospitalized in serious, but stable, condition following a collision with a vehicle on Monday afternoon.The incident occurred at Minto Mall,located on Brookfield Road,north of Campbelltown,prompting a large-scale emergency response and a police investigation.
immediate Response and Fatalities
Emergency services were alerted to the scene at approximately 3:30 p.m. local time after a white SUV struck the two young children. First responders instantly began performing CPR on the infant,but despite their frantic efforts,she was pronounced dead at the scene. Paramedics transported the five-year-old boy to Westmead Children’s Hospital, where he remains under medical care.
Witness Accounts and Scene Details
The scene was one of profound distress, according to witnesses.”A baby was hit in the stroller, and another toddler was injured,” one witness told Nine News. “A lot of shoppers – there were a few people traumatised by seeing it.” Aerial footage revealed the white reno SUV positioned over the parking space’s break lines, with scattered debris and an empty pram nearby. Images also showed paramedics providing treatment to the children, shielded from view by white sheets and an umbrella, while police offered support to one another.
Investigation Underway
Police have established a crime scene and launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Investigators are currently exploring the possibility that the 35-year-old female driver of the SUV may have inadvertently put the vehicle in reverse rather of drive.The driver was uninjured in the collision.
The 35-year-old driver is cooperating with police.Authorities are reviewing security footage and interviewing witnesses to determine the exact sequence of events. The five-year-old boy remains hospitalized in serious, but stable, condition at Westmead Children’s Hospital. The tragedy occurred after the SUV, a white Renault Koleos, struck the children while they were with their mother near the entrance of the mall. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are appealing for any witnesses who may have data to come forward. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of pedestrians,particularly children,in public spaces.
