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Mila was rushed to Dandenong Hospital, then transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital, where police on Friday confirmed she died.
Police said the alleged driver was charged by major collision investigation unit detectives with one count of dangerous driving causing serious injury, and could face further charges.
“It is alleged the young girl was crossing Heatherton Road, at a pedestrian crossing with family, when she was struck by a car,” Victoria Police said in a statement.
“The driver of the car stopped at the scene and was arrested by police.”
The 24-year-old man is expected to front Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The speed limit on that stretch of Heatherton Road is 80km/h. A service road running parallel to the main road has a speed limit of 50km/h.
Police are investigating after a child was hit by a car in Endeavour Hills.Credit: Joe Armao
Melinda Ambros, a local resident standing as an independent candidate in the upcoming City of Casey council elections, told The Age the site of the crash — near the intersection of Heatherton Road and James Cook Drive — was “very dangerous”.
Ambros said authorities acknowledged the intersection was a safety concern.
“Having grown up here, I know first-hand the risks posed by the road’s structure – steep hills that encourage speeding, pedestrian traffic lights that malfunction, and a busy intersection without adequate traffic controls,” Ambros said.
“These factors combine to make it a dangerous area, and the number of incidents here shows that changes are long overdue.
“With both James Cook Primary [School] and Endeavour Hills Specialist School nearby, children, parents, and community members face this danger every day.
“It’s a main thoroughfare, and families are vulnerable, especially during school pick-up and drop-off times.”
Local chiropractor Dr Andrew Braslis had reported pedestrian traffic lights malfunctioning last week, Ambros said.
“The community has shared feedback and is calling for real solutions: safer traffic light setups, speed reduction measures, and better signage to slow drivers down before the intersection,” she said.
The speed limit along this stretch of Heatherton Road is 80km/h.Credit: Joe Armao
“As a mother and a member of this community, my heart aches for this little girl Mila and her family.”
Heatherton Road, which sits close to the Monash Freeway, has been the site of multiple fatal crashes in recent years.
In July 2023, an 87-year-old man was walking on nearby Power Road when he was fatally struck by an oncoming vehicle. A 63-year-old woman was killed in 2021, after she stopped to help a man who had also crashed in the area.
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