No decision on prosecution over toddler death: police

Police say they are still deciding whether to prosecute a driver who ran over and killed a 19-month-old boy in Wairoa yesterday.

Steven Tangaroa Cooper was playing on the roadway in Somerville Street, about 5.30pm yesterday when a woman in a 4WD reversed over him.

Police said the woman thought she had driven over a pot hole at first, but when she drove forward she saw the young boy lying there.

Steven died within five minutes of being hit.

Senior Sergeant Tony Bates of Wairoa police said tonight inquiries were still continuing and no decision had yet been made on whether the driver would face charges.

A crash investigator at the scene said the driver of the 4WD did not know the boy or his family.

She had been visiting a friend in the street.

The boy and his family were visiting a family a few doors up from where the accident occurred.

Serious crash investigators from Gisborne were helping Wairoa police with their inquiries today.