Girl, 9, dies after being struck by car in Werribee, south west Melbourne

A nine-year-old girl who died after she was struck by a car in Melbourne’s southwest is being remembered as ‘beautiful’ and ‘brave’ by loved ones. 

Aluel Ajak was hit by a driver on Shaws Road in Werribee, 32km southwest of Melbourne’s CBD, at about 9.15pm on Wednesday. 

The nine-year-old, who was non-verbal and had autism, ran out onto the road after removing the fly-screen window in her mother’s bedroom and escaping. 

Her mother, Atit Deng, said her daughter didn’t understand the danger of the road and had run onto it several times before. 

Despite the best efforts of attending paramedics, Aluel died at the scene. 

The nine-year-old, who was non-verbal and had autism, ran out onto the road after removing the fly-screen window in her mother’s bedroom

Ms Deng had installed locks on the doors to keep her daughter from escaping, after the little girl ran on to the road about a year ago. 

‘I forgot that Aluel can jump (out of) the window because she did it last year and she didn’t do it again,’ she told the Herald Sun. 

‘(Aluel) is the one who saved me, night-time, daytime. She was a beautiful girl. She couldn’t talk but I love her.’

The grief-stricken mother-of-four is struggling to comprehend the loss of Aluel. 

Ms Deng said three police officers had knocked on the door to break the devastating news about her daughter, who they said couldn’t be saved. 

She now wishes she had been in the room with Aluel before she escaped. 

Aluel’s older sister Koni said her ‘brave’ sister had loved jumping on the trampoline. 

‘(She was) someone who was very courageous, I never saw her scared,’ she said. 

Paramedics tried to save the girl but she died at the scene. Police have launched an investigation to try and determine the cause of the crash (pictured, police at the scene)

The woman driving the car stopped to help and is assisting with police inquiries. 

Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit have will investigate how the crash happened and will remain at the scene on Thursday. 

Locals have left flowers at the intersection of Shaws Road and Glenda Street.

Anyone who has information, witnessed the collision, has CCTV or dashcam footage has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.