A four-year-old girl is in a serious condition in Whakatane Hospital following a serious road incident this afternoon.
The incident happened at approximately 2.20pm when a vehicle reversed from an alleyway on Pohutukawa Avenue, Ohope and struck two girls on the footpath.
Both children were taken to Whakatane Hospital where the 4-year-old local girl is in a serious condition and the 7-year-old girl from Rotorua is described as stable. The girls are known to each other but aren't siblings.
The driver of the vehicle, a 43-year-old local man, has been charged with two counts of drink-driving causing injury and will appear before Whakatane District Court on Tuesday.
An investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing.
As the matter is now before the courts there will be no further comment.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.