One-year-old baby girl dead after being hit by Land Rover in church car park

A baby girl has died after being knocked down by a Land Rover in the car park of a church in Aberdeenshire.

Emergency services were called to the scene in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, at around 7.45pm on Wednesday.

Police confirmed the one-year-old died at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary a short time after the crash on Eigie Road.

A 40-year-old man who was driving the Land Rover was uninjured.

Inspector Scott Deans, from Roads Policing, said: “At this time, our thoughts are with the family of the deceased, along with everyone else affected by this tragic incident.

“Our investigation into the circumstances remain ongoing and we’d like to thank the wider Balmedie community for their patience and understanding as officers carry out their enquiries in the area.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident 3390 of May 15, 2024.”

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 7.45pm on Wednesday to attend an incident on Eigie Road in Balmedie.

“We dispatched several resources to the scene.”

Rod Buckley from Plymouth Brethren Christian Church said: “Sadly, we can confirm that an incident at the Plymouth Brethren Meeting Hall car park in Balmedie involving a single vehicle and a young child happened last evening.

“The young child was tragically pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.

“We are a very supportive church, and we are giving the family and friends of the people involved in the accident the help they need.

“On behalf of the church, I would like to thank the emergency first responders who have been very professional and compassionate in their response.”

Councillor Andrew Hassan of Aberdeenshire Council said: “I think there’s genuine sadness. Sadness for the family affected. Sadness for anyone that was at the scene at the time.

“To some extent, there’s shock that an accident has happened in Balmedie.

“It’s a very close community, a very close parish, not just Balmedie itself.

“My condolences certainly are with everyone that deeply felt the tragedy last night.”

He added: “The police have an inquiry and it would be wrong to comment on that until its formally concluded.

“I imagine all elected members, councillors and other parliamentarians will be briefed on what the conclusion is.

“As a councillor, if any road issues are identified in that inquiry, I will work with my colleagues to see what can be done to address any safety issue that is identified in the inquiry.”