‘Tragic’: Heartbroken family grieve 22-month-old girl’s death

A heartbroken family has shared their grief after a 22-month-old girl was killed in a “shocking tragedy” outside their home.

The grieving family of a toddler who was killed in a “shocking tragedy” outside the family’s NSW home is “completely numb” and “in survival mode” following the heartbreaking indecent.

Emergency services were called to the McPhersons’ Rosemary Row home in Rathmines, near Newcastle, just before 2.30pm on Monday after 22-month-old Payton was hit by a car in their driveway.

Despite paramedics’ best efforts, Payton died at the scene.

Payton was just 22 months old when she died. Picture 9 News

Her mother Jacintha McPherson is still coming to terms with her daughter’s death.

“I've been on autopilot … I’m just in survival mode and supporting everyone at the moment,” she told 9 News.

“When it’s yourself that it happens to, how can you process that? How are you expected to get over it?”

Ms McPherson remembered her beloved daughter as a “typical two-year-old”.

“Full of life, full of beans, full of love, the attitude,” she said.

“The memory of our baby girl is important … trying to give her the send-off that she deserves is what's important.”

She described the incident as a “tragic accident” and said no one was to blame for Payton’s death.

“It was just a tragic accident, kids being kids, and no one's to blame, it’s no one’s fault,” Ms McPherson said.

Payton's grandfather John Ryan and mother Jacintha McPherson are still coming to terms with her death. Picture: 9 News

Payton’s grandfather John Ryan added that people had made judgments without knowing the full circumstances of the situation.

“There were people that decided to have their own opinion without knowing the circumstances surrounding what actually happened and they judged,” he said.

Mr Ryan said his son and Payton’s dad Shannon was “devastated” over the incident and “trying to process it”.

“My son Shannon is absolutely devastated, as is the family,” he told The Newcastle News.

“Her dad was going to an appointment, given her a kiss and put her in the lounge and said, ‘I’ll be back in an hour’.

“She’s followed him out the door and gone to the blind side of the car. Shannon hasn’t seen her, he didn’t realise anything was wrong.

“This is something he’s just got to live with for the rest of his life ... he is numb at the moment, can’t comprehend what’s occurred and is trying to process it.”

NSW Police inquiries into the incident are ongoing.

“An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident has commenced,” police said in a statement on Monday.

“A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.”

Police at the scene in Rathmines on Monday where Payton was killed. Picture: Peter Lorimer

A 38-year-old man was taken to John Hunter Hospital for mandatory testing.

No charges have been laid.

Originally published as ‘Tragic’: Heartbroken family grieve 22-month-old girl’s death