Child killed in city hit-and-run

The child died at the scene of the incident

A young girl has been killed and a woman seriously injured in a hit-and-run collision in Edinburgh.

The incident happened in the Colinton area of the city at about 1530 BST and the child died at the scene.

The woman, believed to the child's mother, was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Eyewitnesses said a green Cherokee Jeep had been involved in two collisions with other vehicles shortly before the fatal crash.

Members of the public stopped one of the occupants of the Jeep from leaving the scene and a search has been launched for a second male suspect who managed to get away.

The woman and child were hit by the vehicle in Westgarth Avenue. The incident has led to serious traffic disruption in the area.

'Opposite pavement'

The earlier crashes occurred in the area within a 15-minute period.

The first incident was reported at about 1520 BST at the Gillespie Crossroads on Lanark Road, before a second crash involving three vehicles was reported in nearby Bridge Road in Colinton which left two females with minor injuries.

Minutes later, the hit-and-run happened in Westgarth Avenue.

Ch Insp Paul Bullen of Lothian and Borders Police said it was not known what speed the car was going at when it collided with the girl.

Mr Bullen added: "It was a tragic chain of events which has led to the death of a young child.

"What seems to have happened is the vehicle was coming out of Westgarth Avenue and then collided with two pedestrians on the opposite pavement.

"We have a deceased young girl and a female who we believe to be her mother who is currently in the infirmary being treated for her injuries."

It was a tragic chain of events which has led to the death of a young child Ch Insp Paul Bullen Lothian and Borders Police

The officer said the vehicle involved in the incident was being examined by scenes of crime, CID and forensics officers.

He added that the two suspects had been detained by passers-by, but one managed to escape. Police are following a "positive line of inquiry" in the hunt for the escaped male.

Mr Bullen said: "Members of the public assisted in the immediate aftermath of the accident to stop them going from the locus. Unfortunately one thereafter made good his escape.

"The inquiry is at an early stage and until we get to interview all the people that we have in the area I can't really give any further information."

Gordon Reynolds, a school master at the Edinburgh Rudolf Steiner School, was among the first people to arrive at the scene.

He was working in his garden when he heard a screech of tyres and went to help.

"When I got close to the vehicle I could see that we actually had a most horrendous accident.

"It was very evident to me that no-one could survive such an accident. My first aid training was totally inadequate."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131.