Child critical after being hit by vehicle in Waikanae

A child has been hit by a vehicle in on the Kāpiti Coast, north of Wellington. The Life Flight helicopter is on the scene. (File photo)

By Matthew Tao

A child has been hit by a vehicle in on the Kāpiti Coast, north of Wellington. The Life Flight helicopter is on the scene. (File photo)

A child is in a critical condition after being hit by a car in Kāpiti.

Wellington Free Ambulance spokeswoman Sarah Coulthard’- said paramedics arrived at the scene on Elizabeth St, Waikanae, at 2.56pm. They had treated a child in a critical condition.

The child was taken to Wellington Hospital by the Life Flight helicopter.

Murray Sharp’- owns a commercial building on the street and was at the scene. He said the incident happened outside a dairy.

He said the road had been cordoned off by fire trucks and police were also present.

Sharp has long had concerns about the safety of pedestrians on the street which is bisected by a rail crossing at its western end. Traffic often sped up to beat the barriers, he said.

He had previously written to the council advocating for safety features such as a lower speed limit and a pedestrian crossing to be installed.

Waikanae School principal Bevan Campbell’- said he hadn’t received any information to suggest the child was part of his school’s community. His thoughts were with the child and their family.