Toddler tragedy in horror start to Christmas holiday road toll

A child has died after being hit by a 4WD at a property in Sydney’s north west. The Christmas Eve tragedy comes as the holiday season road toll climbed alarmingly with police issuing a stern warning to motorists.

A child has died after being hit by a 4WD at a property in Sydney’s north-west.

The Christmas Eve tragedy comes as the holiday season road toll rose to seven with police issuing a stern warning to motorists.

Emergency services were called to Wyoming Road at Dural about 6pm last night and found a two-year-old boy critically injured.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the child, however he died at the scene.

A 38-year-old man has been taken for mandatory testing and is assisting police with their inquiries.

Officers from The Hills Police Area Command and the Crash Investigation Unit have commenced an investigation and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

A child has died after being hit by a 4WD at a property in Sydney’s north-west.

Meanwhile, a man died after being hit by a ute in St Marys yesterday.

Emergency services were called to Monfarville St around 1pm on Saturday and found a man, believed to be in his 70s, with critical head injuries.

He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, but died at the scene.

The driver of the ute — a 58-year-old man — was not injured and was taken to Nepean Hospital for mandatory testing.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said it was tragic to see so many lives lost already during Operation Christmas/New Year.

“NSW Police have responded to three fatal crashes on our roads since our operation started — that’s three too many,” Mr McFadden said.

“We urge people to think about others as you get behind the wheel.

The parked boat involved in a fatal crash in Cromer. Picture: Julian Andrews

“Irresponsible behaviour — including speeding, driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and using your mobile phone while driving — can drastically alter your own or another road user’s life.

“We all want to enjoy this festive season, and by being a responsible road user you are helping others to reach their destination safely and reducing road trauma.”

On Friday night a man died after a car hit a parked boat in the northern beaches.

Emergency services were called to South Creek Rd at Cromer, near the intersection of Inman Rd, about 8.30pm on Friday, where they found the front-seat passenger of a Holden station wagon had died at the scene.

The man has yet to be formally identified but is believed to be aged 29.

The driver of the car, a 56-year-old man, was not injured and was taken to Northern Beaches Hospital for mandatory testing. He was released pending further inquiries.

Northern Beaches Police Area Command officers established a crime scene, which was examined by specialist forensic police.

Police will be out in force on NSW roads. Picture NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard.

Friday was the first day of the operation, with more than 25,000 random breath tests resulting in 45 charges for drink driving.

Police issued 730 traffic infringement notices for speeding offences, 80 for mobile phone offences and 39 traffic infringement notices for seatbelt and restraint offences.

One 27-year-old woman was stopped on O’Brien St in Bondi and returned a reading of 0.108.

Officers also discovered the woman was driving on an expired P1 license. She will appear in Waverley Local Court January 18.

The M1 is always a hot spot for accidents during the Christmas season, and police have already been confronted with shocking acts of dangerous driving.

On Friday afternoon, police stopped a Holden Cruz after other motorists were hit by beer bottles thrown from the car.

When confronted by police, the 26-year-old male driver allegedly spat on the officer.

The driver and his two male passengers, aged 28 and 30, were arrested and taken to Wyong Police Station, where they were charged with a slew of driving and assault officer charges.

The driver was refused bail to face court on Saturday, and his passengers will face Wyong Local Court January 25.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden. Picture: AAP

Meanwhile police have charged a man after an elderly woman was hit and killed by a 4WD in Bankstown on Friday.

The 95-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed on Raymond St about 3.30pm Friday.

She died at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle — a 66-year-old man — was uninjured and taken to Bankstown Hospital for mandatory testing.

He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning death and had his license suspended.

He will face Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday 1 February 2023.

Country police are also pleading with drivers to take responsibility and extra care, after the death of a six-year-old on Thursday.

Detective Inspector Scott Trewhella pleaded with motorists to check themselves, after his colleagues were faced with the death of a six-year-old boy.

“Families that will have empty seats at the Christmas table this year, presents under the tree that won’t be opened,” he said after the crash at Moulamein on Thursday.

“It’s all of our responsibility to do our bit to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“Nobody wants to lose a family member, and emergency services certainly don’t want to see any more scenes like this.”

While the message was loud and clear that double demerit points applied this festive season, and a heavy contingent of highway patrol officers would be monitoring state roads, people needed to stop and think about the victims, Detective Inspector Trewhella said.

“Imagine if it was one of your own. We’ve had a horror year in our sector for fatalities — we’ve seen over 15 in our area. One life lost is one too many.

“People in the country are at great risk of dying, because out here in the country we get comfortable, we know the road, we know the area — but that’s when tragedies happen.

“Our roads have been significantly impacted by flooding, there are hazards to negotiate, potholes …. We really need people to acknowledge that and drive to the conditions.

“What’s really concerning is we are seeing crashes involving alcohol, people speeding, not wearing their seatbelts, not restraining children in correct children seats — we just can’t be casual about these things.

In addition, a female passenger died after a two-vehicle crash in the Nepean on Thursday, and a motorcyclist has died following a crash in the Hawkesbury area.

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