Christchurch Police Urge Extra Caution at Intersections After Near-Miss Involving Child

Christchurch, New Zealand — Police in Christchurch have issued a stark reminder to all drivers to exercise extreme caution at intersections, following a harrowing incident that could have ended in tragedy. The incident occurred at the busy intersection of Heaton St and Strowan Rd, where a child was nearly struck by a vehicle that failed to stop at a red arrow.

A video shared by Canterbury Police on Facebook shows the moment the child, accompanied by their parents, waited to cross the road. As the pedestrian light turned green, the child stepped onto the road to cross. However, an oncoming grey SUV failed to stop at a red arrow, which is required for vehicles turning right. The vehicle narrowly missed the child, thanks to a quick intervention by the child's parent, who shouted from the footpath for the child to return to safety.

Police have described the incident as one that