Baby discharged from hospital after hit-and-run

A baby hurt in a hit and run in south Auckland early this afternoon has been discharged from Middlemore Hospital, having been initially thought critically injured, a hospital spokesman says.

Constable Steve Carey said the baby - thought to be just over a year old - had been taken off the critical list and "things were looking good for the baby".

Police were still appealing for witnesses to the hit and run, which occurred on Great South Road about 12.40pm today as a father crossed the road with the baby in his arms. The car initially braked, but then drove off. While a few people had come forward, no-one had seen the actual incident, but just heard the bang, Mr Carey said.

The father and child were hit after walking off from the mother during an argument on the footpath.

"I understand that the parents had an argument and he had the child and just walked off as perhaps you do, and about halfway across the road he's been hit," Mr Carey said.

The father received minor injuries, but the baby was rushed to hospital in what was thought to be a critical condition. The hospital spokesman said that after reviewing the baby's injury status, that assessment changed and the baby was later discharged.

Police were reviewing CCTV evidence and hoped to identify the driver from that, Mr Carey said.

"It depends on the quality of the CCTV evidence. If that's very good, we can take it from there."

Anyone who saw the incident should contact police.

- NZPA