A three-year-old boy has been identified as dead in an alleged crash incident in Melbourne.
Ethan Nguyen was killed after being hit by a car in Sunshine North, northwest of the city, on Thursday night.
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The driver, a 73-year-old woman from Heathcote Junction, 80 miles north of Melbourne, allegedly left the scene without assistance, before surrendering to police on Friday morning.
Ethan was taken to hospital but died of his injuries overnight.
Ethan Nguyen, 3. Credit: 7NEWS
It is understood that the boy was released from his mother and ran off the road before being hit.
A witness said they were “shaking and frightened” during the terror crash.
“I just hope parents keep it together, stay strong,” another told 7NEWS.
Her family visited the crash site on Friday afternoon, laying flowers and hugging each other.
Speaking in tears, her devastated grandmother said she didn’t know why this had happened to her son.
He said the driver had enough time to slow down before the tragedy stopped.
“Two minutes … enough time for the car to stop,” he told 7NEWS.
“Why the car didn’t stop, I don’t know.”
“She said,‘ Ethan, stop! Stop! ‘ and then he listened and stopped, but the car didn’t stop, “Ethan’s aunt said.
The accused driver was being interviewed by police.
No charges have been filed yet.
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“The boy is believed to have been hit by a driver of a red sedan who did not stop at the scene,” Victoria police said in a statement.
The red sedan was seized and will be subjected to forensic tests.
Police have not yet spoken to Ethan’s mother, who is overwhelmed with grief.
Researchers say it may be some time before they know their version of the story.
Victoria Police Superintendent John Fitzpatrick said the boy had been dragged under the car for about 20-30 meters.
Fitzpatrick said the driver may not have noticed that his car had hit the child.
“This is largely due to the size and age of this little boy; it’s a tragic set of circumstances,” he told Melbourne 3AW radio station.
“We suspect that (the car) will have some signs; it may not be very damaged.”
A Detective from the Major Collision Investigation Unit is filming objects at the scene of the tragedy in Sunshine North. Credit: 7NEWS detectives had previously requested that the driver involved show up. Credit: 7NEWS
Fitzpatrick said police did not believe speeding was a factor in the collision.
“This car doesn’t go in and out of traffic and it goes crazy, it’s just a matter of circumstances,” he said.
“That little boy walked away from his mother and crossed the road and the car was at that particular place and time.”
-With AAP