North Shore baby death tragedy: Driver goes back to the scene to mourn baby

Flowers at the site at Lake Rd, Northcote, this morning. Photo / Vaimoana Tapaleao

Facing a sleepless night ahead of him, the driver of a van that struck a runaway stroller - later resulting in a baby's death - packed up a few candles and drove back to the scene just before midnight.

Sudhir Saksena said the last 24 hours had been a nightmare; particularly after finding out the baby, who was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, had died later.

"I didn't sleep last night. Around 11pm to midnight, I went with some candles to light.

"I went with my wife and sat on the road ... and cried."

The 41-year-old was driving along Lake Rd in Northcote, on Auckland's North Shore, just before 9am yesterday when a stroller flew down a nearby driveway right in the path of his van.

Saksena says there was no time to stop and the vehicle struck the runaway pram - sending the basket holding a 5-month-old baby, understood to be a girl, across the road.

'May your angel rest in peace'

At the scene this morning, a number of colourful flower pots, bouquets and candles have been laid neatly in front of a power pole.

One of the gifts includes a hand-written note that has a drawing of a small heart near the bottom.

"Offering our prayers and condolences to the family. May your little angel rest in peace," the note reads.

Two women who live nearby said they arrived home to see the aftermath yesterday morning - with police and emergency services lined down the road, not far from Exmouth Rd.

"It is very, very sad," one woman said.

Police confirmed the Serious Crash Unit examined the scene. Authorities are also investigating the circumstances of what they described as a "tragic incident."

The baby's death will be referred to the Coroner and those involved in the incident are also being provided with support.