<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Floral tributes have been laid outside of a primary school in Sydney's north-west </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/child-hit-ute-critical-condition-western-sydney/4ea08e98-d19c-4ee2-a632-c532bc12d7df" rel="" target="" title="after a child was hit by a ute coming out of a driveway"><span>after a child was hit by a ute coming out of a driveway</span></a><span> yesterday afternoon.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Emergency services were called to Rouse Hill Public School shortly before 4pm yesterday, where police were told a five-year-old girl had been riding a scooter on a footpath when she was struck by the vehicle.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Paramedics treated her at the scene before taking her to Westmead Children's Hospital in a critical condition.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sheffield-shield-tributes-death-ben-austin/e2171a34-dfae-4dcd-8174-ff3b69e845a8" rel="" target="" title="Cricket stars make touching tribute to Victorian teen killed in training tragedy"><strong><span>Cricket stars make touching tribute to Victorian teen killed in training tragedy</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Early this morning, police announced the girl had died.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Department of Education secretary Mirat Dizdar said the loss was "deeply devastating for the entire school community".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I saw that firsthand," Dizdar said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/rouse-hill-public-school-tributes-for-girl-killed-in-crash-outside-of-primary-school/ca2e8803-0c69-4519-b0ce-060c49a88f20" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/thunderstorms-heavy-rain-forecast-nsw-queensland/bf4331c3-15dc-4f83-ac67-753f7a47433f" target="_blank"><strong><span>Millions facing storms 'every day' for nearly a week</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 42-year-old driver is a father who was picking up his children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He underwent mandatory testing and was released without charge.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My heart goes out to the driver too," one mother at the school said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/woman-dead-struck-by-lightning-cooroy-sunshine-coast/5eaa05cc-3c34-42b0-8ae6-348d6abd594c" rel="" target="" title="Family, community in shock after woman killed in lightning strike"><strong><span>Family, community in shock after woman killed in lightning strike</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a joint statement, Mark Speakman, Sarah Mitchell and Ray Williams from the NSW state opposition said the tragedy would "shake the community to its core".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our hearts ache for the family and friends of the little girl who lost her life outside Rouse Hill Public School," the statement said,</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are thinking of her loved ones, her classmates and the teachers and parents who are mourning today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our deepest thanks go to the paramedics, police and hospital staff who acted with courage and compassion in the most heartbreaking circumstances.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We also want to thank the Department of Education staff who are supporting the school community through this difficult time."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span><a 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