Three-year-old child fighting for life after crash at ‘dangerous intersection’

A three-year-old child is fighting for life after being hit by a car on a major arterial in Melbourne’s south-east.

Emergency crews were called after reports of a morning peak-hour crash on Heatherton Road in Endeavour Hills.

A child was struck by a car on Heatherton Road on Thursday morning.Credit: Joe Armao

Police said a vehicle struck the child near the intersection with James Cook Drive about 8.30am on Thursday.

Paramedics confirmed the child had been taken to Dandenong Hospital in a critical condition. Monash Health said the child was then transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital, which had no update on the child’s condition when contacted late on Thursday afternoon.

The driver, a 24-year-old man from Endeavour Hills, stopped at the scene and has spoken to police.

Footage at the scene showed two colourful children’s scooters abandoned by the side of the road.

Children’s scooters were seen abandoned at the scene.Credit: Joe Armao

Taxi driver Vivek, who did not want to give his last name, drove past the crash scene on Thursday morning.

He said he had made multiple complaints to Victoria Police and his local MP about the busy road.

“It is shocking … but that is a very dangerous intersection,” he said.

Vivek, who owns a local taxi business, said that parents and children regularly crossed Heatherton Road to attend primary schools located on either side.

The driver of the car stopped at the scene.Credit: Joe Armao

“That part should be 60 [km/h] … but I can’t do anything about it,” he said.

Melinda Ambros, a resident standing as an independent candidate in the upcoming City of Casey council elections, also said she had seen multiple accidents along the strip.

“It’s quite a main road … It is a very dangerous intersection, and it needs to be investigated very thoroughly,” she said.

Ambros said this incident would be a particularly difficult time for the community.

Police are investigating the accident.Credit: Joe Armao

“I’m a mum ... I just hope that kid can come home,” she said.

Heatherton Road, which sits close to the Monash Freeway, has been the site of multiple fatal crashes in recent years.

In July 2023, an 87-year-old man was walking on nearby Power Road when he was fatally struck by an oncoming vehicle. A 63-year-old woman was killed in 2021, after she stopped to help a man who had also crashed in the area.

All city-bound lanes of Heatherton Road remain closed between Matthew Flinders Avenue and Power Road. One outbound lane is also closed.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV, dashcam footage or any other information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

With Lachlan Abbott

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