An eight-year-old boy is in an induced coma and "lucky to be alive" after he was struck by a car after getting off a bus in Darwin's rural area.
Police said emergency services were called to the scene on Bees Creek Road, where the child had been hit while crossing the road, at about 3pm on Tuesday.
St John Ambulance NT operations manager Craig Garraway said the boy was "lucky to be alive" after suffering serious head injuries.
"We had a young eight-year-old boy there who appears to have got off a bus on Bees Creek Road, and has run in front of the bus into an oncoming car," he said.
"Intensive care paramedics were on the scene, and put this young boy into an induced coma."
The ABC understands the boy was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital in a critical but stable condition.
Mr Garraway said the boy was now in the intensive care unit and doing well.
"We hope he makes a full recovery," he said.
The circumstances of the crash are being investigated by the Major Crash Investigation Unit.
Police said the drivers of the car and the bus, who both stopped at the scene, are assisting.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact police on 131 444.
