By Belinda Nolan
Little Parbhdiyan “Dhiyan” Gahir was killed when his father ran over him in the driveway of their family home in Landscape Drive last Monday.
Police say the one-year-old tot crawled in front of the four wheel drive to chase after a toy, while his grandmother was preoccupied.
“The grandmother was holding the baby in her arms when the father asked her to tie the shoelaces of his older brother,” Brimbank Highway Patrol Senior Constable Tim Jacobs said.
“She put the baby down while she bent down to tie them and the child’s gone to reach for a toy.
“Unfortunately, the father was coming out of the driveway and didn’t see him and has run over him.”
The boy’s grandmother screamed at his father to stop but it was too late.
The tiny toddler suffered massive head injuries and died instantly.
Paramedics arrived at the scene within minutes but were unable to resuscitate the boy.
The scene that confronted police was devastating.
The toddler’s mother had been inside nursing her two-week-old baby but rushed outside when she heard the commotion.
“She was in shock,” Sen Const Jacobs said.
“The whole family is completely devastated, as you’d imagine. It’s just a very tragic incident.”
Keilor Downs Community Liaison Officer Senior Constable Belinda Elliott was among a team of police who were dispatched to the scene to offer support to the distraught family.
“They were deeply shocked,” Sen Const Elliott said.
“As more and more family members arrived to console the parents the mood became more and more sombre.
“It was just awful.”
The incident has sparked a warning from Kidsafe Victoria, who have urged parents to be more vigilant around driveways.
President Dr Mark Stokes said driveways were one of the deadliest areas around the home with one child killed on average every month in Australia.
“Tragically these deaths usually involve a parent or friend of the family,” Dr Stokes said.
“Most of the driveway cases involved young toddlers who have positioned themselves close by a stationary vehicle. These children were old enough to be mobile, but too small to be easily visible from the driving position when close to the vehicle.”
Dr Stokes said parents should supervise their children closely and should consider installing cameras or sensors on their cars.
Sen Const Jacobs said he believed the height of the car may have contributed to the accident, with the father seated too high to see the child crawling below.
Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.
