A three-year-old child suffered serious injuries after being hit by a car outside a daycare center in Espoo on Friday morning. Police responded to the incident around 9:15 AM in the city center area.
The child was transported to hospital in critical condition, according to police officials. Investigators confirmed the collision occurred in the daycare facility's parking area.
Police have not released new information about the child's condition since the morning incident. Authorities declined to comment on whether they have spoken with the driver or if the driver knew the child.
Possible criminal charges in such cases typically include serious traffic safety offenses and aggravated assault. The specific charges will be determined during the preliminary investigation.
This marks the second pedestrian incident involving a child in Espoo this week. On Monday, a driver struck a middle school-aged girl at a crosswalk and left the scene without stopping.
Espoo, Finland's second-largest city located near Helsinki, has seen increased attention on pedestrian safety around schools and daycare centers. The back-to-back incidents raise questions about traffic safety measures in residential areas where children are present.
Police continue their investigation into both collisions while urging drivers to exercise extra caution in school zones during morning and afternoon hours.