A two-year-old girl was critically injured Wednesday morning after being struck by a car while crossing the street with several other children and a daycare worker in Oshawa, according to Durham Regional Police.

Acting Sergeant Nicholas Gluckstein said the daycare worker was escorting five children through a residential neighborhood during a routine walk when the vehicle struck the group. The children ranged in age from seven months to three years old. The toddler sustained life-threatening injuries and was initially taken to a local hospital before being airlifted to a trauma center in the Toronto area.

“The injuries are very serious,” Sgt. Gluckstein said. “We are hoping for the best.”

The four other children involved in the incident were treated at a hospital for minor injuries. The adult daycare worker sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The driver, who was heading southbound and making a left turn at an intersection controlled by two stop signs, remained at the scene and is cooperating with authorities.

Sgt. Gluckstein explained that while the driver’s direction did not require stopping, the presence of an adult and five young children crossing the street constituted a significant hazard. Investigators are examining the speed of the vehicle and whether distracted driving played a factor. There is currently no evidence to suggest the driver was impaired.

Police continue to gather information by speaking with witnesses and collecting surveillance footage from nearby residences. Charges may be pending as the investigation progresses.