Four-year-old Dubai pupil dies after being hit by car outside school

A girl died after an accident at Greenfield International on Monday

Police published this photograph showing a car had driven into other parked vehicles outside the school. Courtesy: Dubai Police

Latest: Dubai school devastated by death of child in car park

A girl died when she was struck by a vehicle outside her school, police said on Monday.

The pupil, aged 4, was hit while she was standing with her mother in the car park of Greenfield International School at 3.40pm.

Brig Gen Adel Al Suwaidi, head of Jebel Ali Police Station, said a woman motorist was reversing her vehicle and stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake.

Both mother and child were crushed between the moving vehicle and a parked one.

The child died at the scene while her mother was rushed to NMC hospital with fractures.

“The car was reversing in a high speed, by mistake, and the mother and her daughter happened to be passing from behind it," Brig Al Suwaidi said.

“It was speeding to the extent that besides running over the girl and her mother, it caused damage to three cars that were parked.”

Police shared an image that showed the damage to the other vehicles.

An investigation is continuing. Police did not say whether the driver behind the accident has been arrested or taken in for questioning.

In a letter to parents, principal Allan Weston said staff would be on hand to support parents and teachers.

"The incident is under investigation by the relevant authorities and I will communicate more fully with you once I am allowed to share further details," he said.

"As well as concerns for their friends and our community, needless to say the welfare of the family involved is our immediate and number one priority.

"We will be working closely with students, staff and our parent community to provide support as necessary."

Last month, a security guard was killed when a parent also accidentally stepped on the accelerator.

Lil Bahador Pariyar died outside Universal American School in Festival City on October 14.

Police are still investigating and it is not yet known if any action has been taken against the parent behind the accident.