A four-year-old boy was knocked down by a car as he dashed towards a swing in a residential courtyard.

The accident happened in the city of Sochi, Russia, at around 8pm on Saturday, 17th May.

The child had just exited his apartment building and was heading to the nearby playground when a Toyota driven by a 39-year-old woman hit him and ran over him with both wheels before stopping.

He had run out from behind a parked car when the vehicle struck him.

Police said the driver was moving through the courtyard when the boy darted across her path.

The child’s mother was close behind but had not realised the danger.

The boy was hospitalised with injuries, and police have opened an investigation into the incident.

Local traffic officers reminded drivers that courtyards require extra caution because children often act unpredictably and may suddenly appear from behind parked vehicles or bushes.

A spokesperson for the Sochi State Traffic Safety Inspectorate said: "We urge drivers to slow to a crawl in residential areas.

"Children can’t properly judge risks, and it only takes a second for a tragedy to happen."

(MJ Leidig/newsX)