A Melton South family is mourning the loss of seven-year-old Saad Masud, who was killed after being struck by a car outside his home in Melbourne’s west on Saturday afternoon. Victoria Police said the collision happened on Cardigan Close at about 5.15 pm, and confirmed the child died at the scene.

Saad had been riding a scooter on the footpath outside his family home when he moved onto the road from behind a parked van and was hit within seconds by a car allegedly driven by a neighbour. The report said the driver stopped immediately and was later seen on CCTV trying to save the boy’s life.

The crash has shaken the neighbourhood. Neighbour Mohammed Chowdhury told 7NEWS he heard shouting and screaming before stepping outside and seeing the child lying on the street. He described the collision as “a pure accident” and said the driver would carry the trauma for the rest of his life.

The driver’s family said he had been left traumatised, with his own children around the same age as Saad.

Saad’s uncle, Kazi Islam, said the family had been left “completely shocked” by the loss. “We are heartbroken,” he told 7NEWS, adding that the family forgave the driver but wanted the tragedy to serve as a warning for motorists to be more careful around children.

Victoria Police said the driver is assisting investigators, and the full circumstances of the collision are still being established. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has footage or information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

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