A four-year-old boy has died after a car crashed into a Canberra shopping centre.

The boy, who police say was a pedestrian, was struck when the car smashed into the BWS liquor store at Southlands Shopping Centre in Mawson about 10.20am on Sunday.

Paramedics treated the child at the scene before rushing him to hospital in a critical condition, but he was declared dead a short time later.

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The driver of the car was taken to hospital for observation.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The car smashed into the BWS liquor store. Credit: 7NEWS

The boy was rushed to hospital but died a short time later. Credit: 7NEWS

Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has relevant information to contact Crime Stoppers.

The boy is ACT’s second road fatality recorded this year.