An eight-year-old girl who was hit by a car in Melbourne's east last night has died in hospital.
Police said they believed the girl had stepped out onto Victoria Street, near the intersection of George Street, in the suburb of Doncaster, about 6:30pm.
The girl was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital with life-threatening injuries, but died this morning.
"It looked quite horrifying," said local John Grouios. "It was a nasty scene."
He said the stretch of road that ran next to his house was dangerous and that there had been many near misses there.
"I've lived here for 25 years, with six children, and they all played across the road … and we never let them cross this road unsupervised.
"Because it’s a bit of a valley down here, cars are speeding up, trying to get through the lights.
"Ninety per cent of cars here would be travelling over the speed limit.
"We have an accident here once a month. Or a near miss every week.
"And I kept saying it's just a matter of time before something tragic happens."
Police said the driver, a 64-year-old woman from a neighbouring suburb, stopped and tried to help the girl, and has spoken to police.
"[We] are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the pedestrian prior to the crash, or anyone who may have dashcam footage," a Victoria Police statement said.
Victoria Street is an arterial road with parks on either side to the north of its intersection with George Street.
