A six-year-old boy was on his way to an afternoon martial arts class when he was struck by a car and killed in Sydney's south, police say.
The boy was believed to have run onto Durham Street in Hurstville about 4.40pm, just five minutes before his taekwondo class was due to begin at the Boys Scouts Club hall on the opposite side of the road, when he was struck by a car.
Shocked witnesses performed CPR on the boy, who suffered critical head and chest injuries and was knocked unconscious in the crash.
He was also treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to St George Hospital, where he died several hours later.
Inspector Phil Brooks, from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, said the family friend had driven the boy to Durham Street and had just parked the car when the boy got out of the vehicle, walked around the front and stepped onto the road.
It was possible the boy was so eager to get to his class that he failed to look for any oncoming cars, he said.
Inspector Brooks said the family friend was severely traumatised by that tragedy that unfolded.
"Certainly, performing what appears to be an innocent task, dropping a family friend to a sporting event, has resulted in a very sad and tragic outcome," he said.
The distressed driver of the vehicle that struck the boy immediately stopped and spoke to police, and underwent mandatory testing in hospital.
However Inspector Brooks said speed or alcohol were not believed to be factors in the crash.
"We don't believe that there has been any significant factors in this other than the child quite possibly crossing the road in the wrong place," he said.
"Certainly this is a very significant reminder when children are crossing the road, they need to do it supervised. We prefer that parents hold a child's hand and guide them across the road.
"We know that young children in particular can be unpredictable and easily startled and run across a road, however in this case it seems the child was crossing the road for the benefit of going to the local sporting event and was tragically struck by the vehicle."
The boy's death is the latest in a string of pedestrian deaths this year, and also sparked an impassioned plea from Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, for parents to talk to their children about road safety.
"The impact of a crash on everyone who is linked to it resonates well after headlines have faded," he said.
"After a series of similar events earlier in the year, I would hope anyone with children in their lives would use this an opportunity to talk about road safety with them.
"As a parent, I would plead with everyone that if they are with young children near a roadway always keep holding their hand.
"To drivers, particularly if you are passing residential areas, do be mindful children may be about."
Police said inquiries into the crash were continuing.
