A 2-year-old boy was struck by a van put into gear by a 4-year-old at a daycare in Staten Island, police said. View Full Caption Flickr/Soroll

NEW BRIGHTON — A 2-year-old boy was struck by a van near his day care center on Tuesday after a 4-year-old got behind the wheel of the parked vehicle, police said.

The 2-year-old was standing outside the Busy Kidz Group Family Day Care on Winter Avenue at about 5:28 p.m., police said.

A 1997 Dodge van was parked outside and a 4-year-old boy got into the driver's seat of the van and put it in gear, police said. The van rolled backwards and struck the toddler before it stopped against the fence in a driveway across the street, police said.

Police said a 21-year-old worker was in the passenger seat of the van at the time tending to other children.

The toddler was taken to Richmond University Medical Center in critical but stable condition.

The Busy Kidz Group Family Day Care was last inspected in January and currently has no violations, according to the Office of Children and Family Services.

The center did not immediately respond to request for comment.