Boy struck by truck in Ngaruawahia

Waikato Police are urging parents and caregivers to be ensure they know the whereabouts of their children after an accident on a highway in Ngaruawahia yesterday that left a young boy fighting for his life.

Police were called to the scene on the south side of a bridge on SH1, over the Waikato River around midday after reports a boy aged between 11-13 had been injured.

Sergeant Juliet Burgess of the Huntly Strategic Traffic Unit said it appeared the boy had stepped out in front of a northbound light truck.

Suffering critical injuries the boy was taken by ambulance to Waikato Hospital where he was admitted to the hospital's Intensive Care Unit.

The Waikato Serious Crash Unit is investigating the crash.

Waikato Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said with heightened traffic flows in and out of the Waikato during the Hamilton 400 weekend it was imperative parents knew where their children were.

"We've got school holidays occurring simultaneously with the big race event so the roads are very busy and we're asking pedestrians and motorists alike to exercise caution," he said.