Crash victim may have been running away from home

Police had been alerted to a boy running along the middle of a Hawke's Bay road moments before he was hit and killed by a car last night.

The 11-year-old died at the scene after being struck by a car while running along State Highway 50 between Hastings and Napier, about 6.45pm.

A police spokeswoman said today that police received numerous calls from motorists that the boy was running along the middle of the road.

"We responded to that immediately and unfortunately just before we arrived a car had hit the young boy and he was killed."

Police investigations into the accident were continuing today.

It is believed that the boy may have been running away from home and his parents had been out looking for him when the accident happened.

- NZPA