Baby boy seriously injured in driveway accident

File photo / NZ Herald

A 9 month-old baby boy is fighting for his life after he was injured on a driveway in Putaruru.

The baby was airlifted to Waikato Hospital on a Westpac Rescue Helicopter with his mother at about 3.15pm.

"The patient is in a critical, life threatening condition," said a St John spokeswoman.

Putaruru Police said the mother was reversing her vehicle on a downhill driveway when it hit the boy.

The child was initially treated by St John Putaruru staff for abrasions to the head and torso.

Air transport was dispatched because of the potential life threatening injuries.

The spokeswoman said the boy was taken to the hospital for further evaluation.

Putaruru police sergeant Jason Shailer: "The mother was moving the car and the little kid was sitting on the ground.

"It was on a downhill slope...the car went faster that she thought it would and hit the child.

"It didn't run over the kid, but struck him at low speed and knocked him on the concrete causing a head injury and a hip injury."