A four-year-old girl has died after she was struck by a vehicle in Markham, police say.

The incident happened near Fieldside Street and Riverwalk Drive just before 2 p.m. on Thursday afternoon.

Const. Andy Pattenden said that two girls, ages four and seven, were crossing the street when they were struck by a black Mercedes SUV.

The four-year-old girl, identified by police as Arisa Ahmed, was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries, and later died. The second girl is in hospital with serious injuries.

“What I can tell you at this time is that the parents have been contacted,” Pattenden said. “They are with the child that has survived.”

A man who identified himself as a family member said the two girls are sisters.

It is believed that, at the time of the incident, they were walking home from school. Police have confirmed that the girls attended nearby David Suzuki Public School.

The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and is speaking with officers, Pattenden said.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact them. Investigators will be on scene for most of the evening.

Nearby roads were expected to be closed for several hours Thursday night while police investigate.