3-year-old girl dies after being hit by car in Plainfield; Mother also struck

PLAINFIELD, New Jersey (WABC) -- A three-year-old girl is dead and her mother is hospitalized in critical condition after they were struck by a car in Plainfield Wednesday morning.

The incident happened at the intersection of Park Avenue and West Second Street around 9 a.m.

The victims were taken to an area hospital, where the child died as a result of the injuries.

The preliminary information indicates a vehicle operated by an adult male was traveling south on Park Avenue while the pedestrians were crossing.

The driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was not injured.

Witnesses ran out to help shortly after the crash but felt helpless when they saw the chilling aftermath.

"I just seen the police roping off with the yellow tape and then I seen a little child's carriage and a couple of sandals and something littered in the street," said witness Michael Waddell.

Witnesses described the moments that followed, with police and medics quickly arriving on the scene and tending to the seriously injured pair.

"I came over here and I see a Toyota and I seen the girl, her mother was on the floor," said witness William Alvayero.

"The police was tending to her and the paramedics had got there...and she was really upset distorted like," said witness Christie Wilson.

Police say the driver of the Camry, an unidentified male, remained on the scene as accident investigators interviewed witnesses and collected evidence.

At this point police say it's too premature to determine if that driver will face any charges.