A six-year-old girl has been knocked dead in what looks like a hit and run accident on the M41 highway near Mt Edgecombe on Thursday afternoon. The KZN police has open an investigation on the grounds of culpable homicide.

KZN police said the girl was crossing the M41 highway in Mt Edgecombe at 2.51pm when she was knocked by a vehicle.

“She was declared dead at the scene. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated.”

Prem Balram, from Reaction Unit SA, said their offices received multiple calls from passing motorists reporting the accident.

“On arrival at approximately 2.51pm, medics assessed the child and found that she had been fatally injured.

“The driver of a white Ford Bantam bakkie, who stopped to assist, informed Rusa members that a light motor vehicle travelling in front of him ran over the child. The driver failed to render assistance and fled the scene.

“The deceased’s five-year-old cousin, who was with her at the time of the incident, was not injured.

“It was established that both children were playing at a block of flats when they noticed an orange rope lying on the northbound lane. They crossed the busy road in an attempt to retrieve the rope when the accident occurred.”

Balram said the child, who is from Pietermaritzburg, arrived at her aunt’s house in Cornubia on Thursday and was expected to spend the school holidays with relatives.