Police arrest 15-year-old after girl, 7, dies from life-threatening injuries on playing field

The girl was taken to hospital but died a short time later, North Yorkshire Police said.

A woman living in the house by the track said a woman arrived in the street by car on Monday afternoon.

She described how she saw the mother on her knees crying in the road.

She added: "I arrived in my car behind the mother.

"I wasn't quite sure what was going on, it wasn't until I spoke to the police that I found out.

"The mother was on her knees in the middle of the road, crying and saying things.

"It was quite distressing."

The woman, who did not want to be named, said the family did not live in the street of six red-brick detached houses.

She said: "We've all been here a long time, there's no children in this street."

The woman said children often played on the field in the summer.

Alness Drive is a quiet street lined with red-brick detached homes, lying to the south east of the city centre.

On Tuesday morning, the grass track leading from the quiet cul-de-sac to a playing field was cordoned off.

A white tent could be seen on the playing field beyond the cordon.

A single police van was parked on the driveway of a house neighbouring the track to the field.

A force spokesman said: "Police were called shortly after 4.30pm on Monday 9 January to an address in Alness Drive in York.

"Officers attended and, upon visiting a scene nearby, they found a seven-year-old girl with life-threatening injuries.

"An ambulance attended and the girl was taken to York District Hospital, where she sadly died a short time later.

"A 15-year-old girl has been arrested in connection with the incident. She remains in police custody for questioning.

"Officers remain at the scene while the investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the death of the girl continues."

The York City and East neighbourhood policing team tweeted: "Difficult late shift for all York staff with tragic death of a 7 year old. Thoughts go out to family members."

Rob McCartney, 50, who lives in one of the homes next to the track, said he saw the young girl lying in the field.

He said the child's mother was "distraught", shouting for help and saying her daughter had been killed.

He said: "I came to the door to see what was happening there. The mother came running up the street shouting for help and saying 'Get an ambulance'.

"I put my shoes on, went up the side of the house. I could see a young girl lying in the field, police were already attending to her."

Mr McCartney added: "(The mother) was back and forth, obviously very, very distraught and who I think was the father turned up.

"I spoke to her later, asked if she was OK and she said 'No, no, she's my little girl'.

"She said 'I think she's killed her'.

"They were obviously very distraught. Didn't want to talk to people, the two of them took themselves off, were consoling each other. I didn't recognise them."

Earlier, a man and a woman, believed to be the young girl's grandparents, arrived at the scene and left a bunch of flowers by the cordon.

The card read: "Night, night my darling princess Katie, love Nana and Grandad."

A family - some of whom were in tears - also took flowers and removed a black Peugeot 206 car, which had been parked near the entrance to the field.

Later, Detective Chief Inspector Dave Ellis read a police statement at Fulford Road police station.

He said the 15-year-old remained in police custody and officers were carrying out house-to-house inquiries.

Mr Ellis said: "Specially trained officers are supporting the victim's family at this extremely difficult time for them.

"Clearly the circumstances require the investigation to be conducted in a particularly sensitive manner."