Driver, 3-year-old daughter struck and killed after he fled crash scene in Pickering, police say

A man and his three-year-old daughter have died after being hit by a vehicle moments after he fled the scene of a car crash in Pickering on Tuesday night, Durham police said. 

Police were called to the area of Taunton and Brock roads around 7:50 p.m. after a report of a driver failing to remain at the scene of a collision, according to a news release Wednesday. 

The man, 40, was driving a Honda and turning left onto Taunton Road when he struck a Nissan that was travelling southbound, the release said. 

He continued driving west on Taunton for approximately 350 meters, police said in an email to CBC Toronto. They said they received reports the man was fleeing the scene.

The man eventually left the roadway and struck a guardrail, before coming to a stop in a ditch, the release said. 

He then exited the Honda with his daughter. It is unclear why they got out of the car, but it had sustained significant damage and air bags had been deployed, Const. Nicholas Gluckstein said on Wednesday. 

Police said the man was attempting to cross Taunton while carrying his child when they were struck by the driver of a BMW, the release said. 

The man was taken to a local hospital, where he died, police said. The child was treated at a hospital in Toronto but also died soon afterwards, they said. 

The lighting on the roadway where the pair were struck "is not the best," Gluckstein said. 

He said police will investigate whether the lighting contributed to the collision. 

Police are not considering any charges at this time, he said. 

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.