A Ballarat family watched in horror as a car rolled down a hill after a toddler possibly released its hand brake while alone in the vehicle.
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Emergency crews were called to a street in Nerrina following reports the car lost control with the three-year-old boy inside and smashed into a stationary 4WD about 4.30pm on Saturday.
Police said the boy was alone in the vehicle when he possibly released the hand brake, causing it to roll down the street.
“Police believe he was in the vehicle on his own and possibly released (the) hand brake,” Victoria Police spokeswoman Creina O’Grady said.
An ambulance was called to the scene and paramedics assessed the boy.
He managed to avoid any injuries, an Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said.
Police said no offences were detected in relation to the incident and no charges would be laid.
There is no specific offence of leaving children in a car but a section under the Children, Youth and families Act can apply in some situations.
Kidsafe Australia’s website states 225 children were left unattended in cars in December last year.
“Anecdotal evidence suggests that the majority of children left unattended in car incidents are unintentional – common scenarios include children locking themselves inside the car after being given the keys to play with (for example, when a parent or carer is packing or unpacking the car) and newer cars self-locking with the keys inside,” it reads.
“There have also been incidents in Australia and around the world where parents or carers have unknowingly left a child in a car.”
The sedan caused damage to the passenger doors of the 4WD after the crash.