Toddler critically hurt after van runs over her in driveway

The 17-month-old girl was rushed to Starship Hospital. File photo / NZ Herald

A 17-month-old girl was rushed to Starship hospital with critical injuries last night after she was run over by a courier van in her own driveway.

The toddler was run over at her Flaxmere home about 10.30am yesterday.

"A courier driver had been to the address to deliver a package and while he was there the toddler has managed to walk down the driveway from the rear of the property without being seen and has stopped in front of the van," said Sergeant Clint Adamson. "As the van has gone to leave, the 17-month-old has been hit."

The toddler was taken to Hawkes Bay Regional Hospital by her family, but was transferred to Starship last night after her condition deteriorated.

It is understood she suffered internal injuries and underwent surgery in Hastings.

She was transported to Auckland by road and was expected to be admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit.

Mr Adamson said police were investigating the incident.

It comes a week after Samantha Mauheni pushed her car over her 21-month-old son Kingston in a Gisborne driveway.

Miss Mauheni was trying to get a toy motorbike out from under the vehicle. She had reversed over the toy and when she went to get it out from under her back wheel, her car lurched too far forward. The 21-year-old did not know Kingston was in front of the car.

The toddler was rushed to Gisborne Hospital, but died a short time later.

According to statistics from Starship service Safekids New Zealand, a child is hospitalised every two weeks with serious injuries received from a vehicle driving on a private driveway.

The majority of drivers involved are close family members.

A further five children, on average, are killed annually in the same way.