Injured child who ran into path of car turns three

Following the accident, the boy spent several weeks in intensive care at Starship Hospital. Photo / File

A toddler critically injured when he ran into the path of a car on Auckland's Mt Eden Rd had his third birthday this week in a rehab centre.

The boy's grandmother also ran into the path of the car while trying to stop him on May 4.

His father, who asked not be named, said the two were recovering, though they could have to wait up to a year to find out the long-term impact of a head injury the boy suffered.

"It was a very serious concussion and it's going to take time to see if there is nerve damage," he said.

"He can talk better than he was and the doctors are confident he should recover to how he was before the accident, [but] they just can't be sure yet."

The boy had earlier spent several weeks in intensive care at Starship Hospital. He also had surgery on a badly injured leg.

His father said the boy's third birthday on Thursday had been a special day. "Some friends and colleagues made a cake for him, which he was very happy with," he said.