1-year-old boy dies after being struck by vehicle in Phoenix mobile home park

A 1-year-old child has died after he was hit by a vehicle at a mobile home park near 21st Avenue and Broadway on Tuesday.

"There was little kids crying because the little kids saw what happened," said Fatima Garcia. "Very tragic."

It was a heartbreaking scene -- according to Phoenix Police, it appears the vehicle was backing out of a driveway when it struck the boy around 5:00 p.m. There were adults at the boy's home and he may have walked away for a few seconds.

"Me and my sister heard screaming, some really bad screaming and she thought that they were playing, and I was like, no, that screaming is nothing to be playing around.. they were in pain," said Yane Garcia.

Police say the boy's parents tried to rush him to an area hospital when officers and paramedics intercepted them at a gas station near 7th Avenue and Broadway, but it may have cost them precious minutes in trying to save his life.

"Probably related to a lot of panic going on.. and seeing your child in a very critical state and they didn't know what to do at that particular point."

Phoenix Fire Department crews transported the child to a hospital, where he later died.

Two families are joined together in one tragic moment. The driver's business partner says he's devastated.

"It was an accident and to have that in your head that you ran over a little boy. And now we find out it is fatal.. that the boy passed away.. is even harder on him I bet," said Eric Torres.

"That image is stuck in my head, of the little boy. How he was. That's what's stuck in my head. I'm just really shaking," said Yane.

Authorities say the driver stayed at the scene and notified the child's parents about the incident. Police say they do not believe impairment is a factor in this case, but the investigation is ongoing.

The driver's name was not released.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.