By CARA SULIEMAN & SHAUN MILNE
A woman was knocked down and killed while carrying a three year old girl in a supermarket car park earlier today.
She was struck by a blue Citreon Picasso outside a busy Sainsbury’s store at Straiton Retail Park near Loanhead, Midlothian.
It was thought the car hit her while its driver tried to park.
Three ambulances and a senior officer were scrambled to the scene but could do nothing to save the woman and the 42-year-old died from her injuries at the scene.
Police said her three-year-old child was taken to the Edinburgh Sick Kids for treatment and detained overnight for observation.
They understood the child was suffering from shock.
The driver of the car was taken to the city’s Royal Infirmary hospital and treated for severe shock.
Neither the police nor ambulance service were able to say whether or not the driver was part of the same group or a stranger.
The accident happened during the busy lunchtime period at 1.10pm.
Last night a single bouquet of flowers was laid at the scene.
It was propped up next to a disabled parking space, just a few feet along from an area reserved for parent and child parking.
The manager of the Sainsbury’s store said staff were unable to comment.
Last night a police spokesman said: “This was a tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the woman’s family at this difficult time.
“We are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time, and saw what happened, to contact police immediately.”
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed three crews had attended the scene, but added: “The patient was dead on arrival.”
Anyone with any information was asked to Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131.
