A 3-year-old girl is fighting for her life after running on to the road and being struck by a car.
The toddler was last night in intensive care at Waikato Hospital while doctors decided whether to fly the girl in a critical condition to Starship Hospital in Auckland.
Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton said the girl ran on to the street directly into the path of an oncoming vehicle on Willoughby St, beside the Waikato Stadium, in Hamilton around 2.15pm.
He said the vehicle involved did not appear to be speeding, and both of the girl's parents were with the child at the time.
The toddler was immediately given CPR by off-duty fire officers, who were playing in the New Zealand Fire Service National Tournament being held at Willoughby Park.
The final game, between Hamilton and Auckland, was in play when the accident occurred nearby.
A fire officer at the event, who asked to not be named, said the game was stopped for around 15 minutes while officers and spectators ran from the field to tend to the little girl's injuries.
"They were right there, administering first aid straight away," he said.
Neighbours spoken to by the Herald on Sunday said the street was quickly full of police cars and fire engines after the accident. They did not know if the people involved were local to the area.
The road was closed for about one hour while the Serious Crash Unit investigated, but was re-opened at 3.45pm yesterday.
Terry Booth, who runs Stadium Motel opposite the park, was surprised at the speed of emergency services' response.
"They quickly blocked off the road, put cones out, then moved them to let the ambulance through."
A Waikato Hospital spokeswoman said the toddler was "seriously ill" and was in intensive care last night.
