A boy has been killed and another child was injured after being hit by a car during the school run.
Emergency services were called to Stock Road in Stock, south of Chelmsford, Essex, just after 8.20am on Friday.
They attended the scene following reports of a vehicle colliding with two children.
The second child was airlifted to hospital for treatment. The youngsters’ ages were not immediately released.
A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs. He remains in custody.
The road remains closed between School Lane and Honeypot Lane.
The two children are students at Mayflower High School in Billericay, around one-and-a-half miles away, its headteacher Damian Lee said in a letter to parents.
He wrote: “I am writing to regrettably inform you that two of our students were involved in a road traffic accident this morning.
“Sadly, one of the students passed away and the other student has been airlifted to hospital.
“The families of the students are being supported by a specialist police liaison team.”
Detective Inspector Mark Fraser, of Essex Police’s serious collision investigation unit, said: “This is quite clearly an incredibly tragic incident which will be felt by many people across the area, not least the families of the two young victims.
“Our role is to establish the circumstances which led up to this incident, which we will do meticulously, and I would ask people not to speculate, whether in person or online.
“I would also like to thank everyone who has already come forward to speak to us and would urge anyone who has information and not yet spoken to us to please come forward.”