Jeremy Searle accidentally ran over his young son Wyatt while leaving the driveway of their family home.

Not realising the tragedy that had ocurred, the father-of-four kept driving while his son lay dying on the ground. 

Wyatt, who celebrated his third birthday earlier this month, was rushed to hospital but could not be saved.

Family friends say the family is “devastated” and “drawing on their faith to pull it all together”.

The “Wyatt Searle Fundraiser” account was set up by friends to help the family cover the cost of burying their boy. 

Wyatt was known as a “real character” to Cootamundra locals, who “melted the hearts of all he met with his overflowing character, affection and joyfulness”.

Nationally, it is estimated that 60 children under the age of four were killed between 2001 and 2010 by a car around the home.

Another six aged between 5 to 14 were killed in the same period.

The vast majority of deaths occurred in driveways.

Young mother Emma Cockburn’s 15-month-old daughter Georgina was killed when her husband accidentally reversed his trailer over her.

Peter Cockburn – a builder – was negotiating his work ute into the garage of the family home when he “heard the bump”.

Mrs Cockburn sympathised with the grieving Searle family, saying “time helps you learn to live with the pain but that's about as good as it gets”.

“The family must be going through hell; words can't describe what it’s like.

“It totally goes against the grain of nature to bury a child and they leave a huge hole in your life.”

Mrs Cockburn urged Jeremy and Jodie Searle to seek help, not to internalise their anguish.

“Families in this situation have disintegrated because they struggle so much; it doesn't matter who it is, if you need help ask,” she said.

The Cockburns founded the Georgina Josephine Foundation in the hopes of reducing low-speed runover accidents and have urged parents to “treat driveways like roadways”, which are not to be played on.

“Children are unpredictable, so close, active supervision by the adults around them is the best protection,” she said.

The foundation suggests doors between garages and houses have high handles, a self-closing mechanism and swing into the house.