Girl killed by van in hit-and-run

Police are carrying out inquiries at the scene of the collision

A girl of six has died in a hit-and-run involving a van on Merseyside.

She was walking along a road in Huyton, near Liverpool, with a woman and a five-year-old girl when she was hit by a Fiat Ducato van just before 2200 BST.

The driver fled the scene on foot. The six-year-old was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital and the other child suffered facial injuries.

Police have arrested a 24-year-old Liverpool man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the crash, as a similar van was earlier seen being driven erratically in the nearby town of Prescot.

Suspect questioned

Police said it was seen by officers but by the time a patrol car had turned around, the van had disappeared.

The collision, which was reported to police later, happened as the victim was walking along Astley Road, Huyton.

Police said the van turned off Hillside Avenue and into her path.

A post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death is expected to take place later.

House-to-house inquiries are taking place in the area and the arrested man is being questioned by detectives.