A four-year-old boy who died after being knocked down in a housing estate in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, had celebrated his birthday at the weekend.
The child was killed just yards from his home in Farranshock, a new development on the outskirts of Mullingar.
He has been named locally as Abdur Rehman.
It happened at around 6.30pm yesterday evening and while emergency services rushed to the scene, Abdur was later pronounced dead at the nearby Regional Hospital, Mullingar.
A BMW car was taken away from the scene this morning.
Family friend Naveed Iqbal said Abdur had not even opened all his birthday presents.
"They were keeping some for him so he could open one every day," he explained.
"The family just moved here a few months ago. We helped them move. They are a hardworking family, same as everyone here. It's so sad for everyone."
Mr Iqbal said Abdur's father, originally from Pakistan, had been living in Ireland for 20 years. His mother is a medical student.
The family had welcomed a new baby in recent weeks.
Watch: Boy's death 'a loss for everyone’, say Mullingar locals
Another family friend Fahim Khan paid tribute to the community who he said had helped in the aftermath of the incident.
"The community has been so supportive. It's a loss for everyone, it's a loss for every parent, it's heartbreaking.
"It's hard to put the words together. The parents are still in the hospital. It's just heartbreaking."
Farrenshock estate is a new development on the outskirts of Mullingar. Many residents have moved in over the last 12 months. Abdur's family had moved into the estate in recent months.
Two other people killed in separate crashes
The boy's death comes as two other people were killed in separate road crashes over the Easter weekend.
An 18-year-old man died in a crash involving a scrambler bike and a car in southwest Dublin on Sunday, while a motorcyclist died following a collision with a car in Co Limerick yesterday.
Their deaths bring to 51 the number of people who have died on Irish roads so far this year.
There were also a number of serious road collisions around the country yesterday.
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Four people, including two young children, were seriously injured in a two-car collision in Co Sligo.
Two women, aged in their 20s and 40s, along with a nine-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl were taken to Sligo University Hospital, following the crash which occurred on the N59 at Ballysadare at around 2.30pm.
The driver of the second car, a woman in her 50s, was also taken to hospital.
In Co Longford, a man in his 20s was airlifted to hospital following a collision outside Longford town.
The crash, involving a motorcycle and a car, occurred at Mullaghavorneen, on the outskirts of Longford town at around 6pm.
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The motorcyclist was taken the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore, with serious injuries.
Another motorcyclist, aged in his 30s, was seriously injured in a collision at Ballyhale in Co Kilkenny.
The man was taken to the Mater Hospital in Dublin, following the collision involving his motorcycle and a car at 12.40pm. No other injuries were reported.
