A todller was in a stable condition in hospital last night after being knocked down by a car driven by her own mother.
The 19-month old girl, named locally as Emma Perkins, was in the front driveway of her parents’ home at Sinclair Park in Inverness when she was struck by the vehicle.
It is understood that the youngster’s mother, Morag Guthrie, 46, was moving the car when her daughter walked out of the house unnoticed.
Police and ambulance crews were called to the scene of the freak accident in Smithton.
The girl was taken by ambulance to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness with what police described as serious injuries.
She was later transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill in Glasgow.
It is understood that Ms Guthrie and Emma’s father, Alan Perkins, have travelled to Glasgow to be at their daughter’s bedside.
Ms Guthrie, 46, is believed to work as a nurse for NHS Highland.
Officers from the road policing unit in Dingwall were at the scene of the accident for several hours carrying out investigations.
The two-storey semi-detached home is in a quiet residential area of the city.
Children’s toys could be seen lying on a grassed area beside the house yesterday.
Residents described their shock at the incident.
Next door neighbour Barbara Miller, 67, said: “It’s obviously really sad to hear that this has happened and I just hope that the wee girl is ok.
“If you look at that driveway you can see it is awkward.
“When the kids are out on the street you have to be very careful when you’re in the car because you don’t know when they are going to come out.”
“The police were still there at 10.30pm when I went to bed on Saturday night. They were using their tripod to do their investigations.”
Another neighbour said: “All I saw was the ambulance and police outside the house.
“The neighbours were outside their houses at the time and the feeling now is one of shock.”
Councillor John Ford, ward member for Culloden and Ardersier, said: “I am extremely sorry about the accident.
“It is a terrible shame when anyone has an accident but even more so when it involves children. The parents have my sympathy.”
A police spokesman said: “At 4.39pm on Saturday, the Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland were made aware of a road traffic collision involving one vehicle and a pedestrian in the Smithton area of Inverness.
“As a result of the collision a 19-month old girl was conveyed by ambulance to Raigmore Hospital with serious injuries.
“Inquiries are currently ongoing by officers of the divisional road policing unit at Dingwall, and anyone who may have any information in relation to the incident is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101.”