A five year old pedestrian has been seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle on Ferry Road this morning.

Emergency services were called to the scene near the intersections of Tilford Street and Richardson Terrace at about 8.40am.

A witness told Chris Lynch Media the boy, a student at Te Waka Unua School, was hit by a vehicle exiting a driveway during the busy morning school period.

They said the child became trapped underneath the vehicle and the car had to be lifted to free him.

The witness said, “We saw the principal and several other staff from the school at the scene along with fire, multiple police and three ambulance vehicles.”

They said the boy’s scooter remained lodged under the car while ambulance staff worked on him at the scene.

The witness said, “He was not in a good way at all.”

The incident caused distress among other children walking to school, with many seen crying and being comforted by school staff, parents and nearby residents.

The witness said adults from a nearby preschool and dairy also came out to help as emergency crews responded.

A St John spokesman told chrislynchmedia.com they responded with an ambulance and a rapid response vehicle.

The child was assessed at the scene and transported to Christchurch Hospital in a serious condition.

Police remain at the scene carrying out examinations and photographing the vehicle while enquiries into the circumstances of the crash continue.

Te Waka Unua School Principal Janeane Ried told chrislynchmedia.com  “the well-being of our students is always our top priority and we are very saddened by this incident.

“We have support available for those students who witnessed the incident and the Ministry of Education has been prompt to offer further support as needed.