Update:
The mother of a six-year-old boy who died after being hit by a car on Durham Street, Hurstville, has said "in heaven there is no traffic, mummy loves you forever" in a moving tribute to her son.
Mother Zhen Zhen posted the message online after her son Ryan Leo was hit as he ran across a Hurstville road to get to his Taekwondo class on Monday afternoon.
Employees from nearby businesses tried desperately to revive the year one Oatley Public School student as he lay in the middle of the street, dressed in his white martial arts uniform with a yellow belt. Both of his shoes were later found on the road, metres from the tragic accident.
TUESDAY JULY 29:
Hurstville Council has been asked to explain why it did not act on community calls about pedestrian safety in Durham Street, Hurstville, after a boy, 6, died yesterday after being hit by a car while crossing the road.
Ryan Leo, of Hurstville, was on his way to a martial arts class on Tuesday afternoon at the 1st Hurstville Scouts Group hall.
The boy, who attended Oatley Public School, suffered critical head injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to St George Hospital. He died several hours later.
Oatley Public School principal Debbie Hunter said Ryan was ''a bright, outgoing and delightful student of our school''.
''He loved to know that he was pleasing other students and teachers. We will remember his passion for singing and his love for martial arts. At this stage we are supporting his family and respecting their wishes.
''The school is being supported by the Department of Education and Communities including counsellor support for students and staff as required.
I know we will all feel the loss of this young student from our school. Ryan will be sadly missed."
St George Area Command is still investigating, but said at this stage it still looks as though it was a ‘‘tragic accident’’.
Dry cleaner Wafa Hage said the little boy's aunt was crying hysterically as people from nearby businesses tried to revive him in the middle of Durham Street.
"I opened the door and saw the little boy on the ground. I hugged (the boy's aunt) and gave her some water but she was screaming," Mrs Hage said.
Mrs Hage's husband, Hassan, said the boy was hit just outside his business and was not breathing when he came out to help.
The boy was wearing his white taekwondo uniform and his shoes were strewn on both sides of the road, several metres from where he was hit at 4.40pm.
"I saw the little boy lying on the middle of the road and I told my son to ring an ambulance," Mr Hage said.
"He was unconscious, not moving at all."
He said Concept Funerals staff ran from their nearby shopfront and rolled the boy on his side before clearing his mouth and trying to revive him.
Ryan's helpless aunt sat on the footpath and watched as paramedics arrived opposite the scout hall where the child was to attend class at Taekwondo World.
Mr Hage said it was a tragedy that would happen again if something was not done to improve road safety in the area.
''They need a crossing, anything." He said that he and his wife felt sick about the accident.
A NSW Police spokesman said the boy had been driven to the class by a family friend, who parked the car on the opposite side of Durham Street.
''He loved to know that he was pleasing other students and teachers. We will remember his passion for singing and his love for martial arts.''
- Oatley Public School principal Debbie Hunter
The spokesman said the boy got out of the car, walked to the front of the vehicle and stepped onto the road where he was hit by a vehicle.
The female driver underwent mandatory testing and has spoken to police.
A report is being prepared for the Coroner.
The director of the funeral home next to the hall said he had asked the council several times to make that side of Durham Street a one-hour parking zone.
He said this would free parking spaces for parents — spaces that are being used all day by residents at the nearby East Quarter housing development and commuters.
He said the master of Taekwondo World Martial Arts School where the boy attended had asked the council to install a ‘‘kiss and ride’’ zone outside the Scouts hall.
He said there were many minor car accidents in the street where motorists also made U-turns back into Forest Road.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command’s Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said the ''tragedy was heartbreaking for all concerned''.
“After a series of similar events earlier in the year, I would hope anyone with children in their lives would use this an opportunity to talk about road safety with them,'' he said.
“As a parent, I would plead with everyone that if they are with young children near a roadway always keep holding their hand,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
.Do you have pedestrian/traffic safety concerns about this area?