NEED TO KNOW
- A 4-year-old boy died after he was struck by a car while inside a store
- The vehicle crashed into a shopping center at around 10:20 a.m. local time on Jan. 18
- The child was declared dead after he was taken to the hospital in critical condition
A 4-year-old boy is dead after he was struck by a car while inside a store.
On Sunday, Jan. 18, police and emergency services received reports of a car that had driven into a storefront at Southlands Shopping Center in Mawson, Australia, at around 10:20 a.m. local time, according to ACT Policing.
The Canberra Times reported that a blue hatchback drove from a nearby area directly into the window of a liquor store. A photo from the scene of the incident shows shopping bags inside the car’s open trunk.
Upon arrival, first responders found that the 4-year-old had been hit by the car, police said in their news release.
The child was treated at the scene before paramedics transported him to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
However, the 4-year-old was declared dead soon after. His death marked ACT’s second road fatality of 2026, the organization said.
“ACT Fire and Rescue and ACTAS arrived at the scene and immediately treated the young person,” ACT Policing Inspector Nigel Booth told The Canberra Times.
“The young person was transported to Canberra Hospital, where medical treatment was commenced. Unfortunately, that young 4-year-old boy has passed away,” he added.
Booth also told the outlet that the “driver of the vehicle is currently at the hospital assisting police with inquiries.”
After the incident, a local resident told The Canberra Times he was grabbing breakfast with a friend when they noticed around 10 police cars outside the shopping center.
ACT Policing/Facebook
“We saw the car in there and we instantly thought it was a robbery,” William Polinelli said.
His friend, Jack Berg, added, “It was a bit disturbing, especially seeing as we were pulling out of the driveway, there [were] three cop cars racing down. We saw the ambulance actually with its lights on, going towards the hospital.”
Police said the ACT Road Policing’s Major Collision Team is continuing to investigate the circumstances of the collision, and a report will also be prepared for the local coroner’s office.
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