A five-year-old boy has died and his mother remains in a serious condition after they were struck by a four-wheel drive while crossing a suburban street in Cloverdale, in Perth’s south-east.
The heartbreaking incident has left the family and the local community devastated.
According to reports, emergency services were called to Belgravia Street, Cloverdale, at around 4:25pm on Tuesday, July 14, after a Toyota LandCruiser collided with the mother and her young son.
The 48-year-old mother suffered critical injuries, while the five-year-old boy sustained life-threatening injuries. Both were rushed to hospital.
The young boy was taken to Perth Children’s Hospital, where he sadly died from his injuries. His mother was transported to Royal Perth Hospital, where she remains in a serious but stable condition.
At the time of the accident, the boy’s father and his older brother were also with the family. Fortunately, they escaped without physical injuries but were left devastated after witnessing the tragic incident.
One of the neighbours, Emma Kerich, said she heard a very loud bang before rushing outside.
Speaking to The West Australian, she said, “I heard a very big bang. I was inside, so I came outside and quickly ran out. I saw a lady lying face down and a small boy lying near the bus stop.”
Another nearby resident immediately started CPR on the young boy before paramedics arrived. Several people also tried to comfort the injured mother and other members of the family.
Residents described hearing the injured child repeatedly crying, “Mummy, Mummy,” while others said it was one of the most heartbreaking and chaotic incidents they had ever witnessed.
The 55-year-old driver of the Toyota LandCruiser stopped at the scene and is assisting police with their investigation. He was not injured and has been fully cooperating with investigators.
Major Crash investigators remained at the scene for several hours, examining Belgravia Street and collecting evidence. Their investigation is focused on determining exactly how the collision occurred, including whether speed, visibility or any other contributing factors were involved.
Western Australia Police have appealed to anyone who witnessed the crash, or anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage from the area around 4:25pm, to contact investigators.
The fatal crash has shocked the Cloverdale community, with neighbours offering support to the grieving family.
The tragedy is another painful reminder of the devastating impact of road crashes in Western Australia, with authorities once again urging both motorists and pedestrians to remain vigilant on suburban roads.
