A young child was rushed to hospital after being hit by a minivan as it was backing up in the southeast Calgary community of Auburn Heights Thursday morning.

It happened around 6:40 a.m. in the 500 block of Auburn Bay Heights S.E.

The girl was walking on a sidewalk when she was struck by the van, which was travelling at a relatively low speed, according to EMS spokesman Stuart Brideaux.

Police said they temporarily blocked traffic at Glenmore Trail and Macleod Trail as they escorted the ambulance to the Alberta Children's Hospital.

The girl was listed in serious but stable condition during the transport, Brideaux said.