In a tragic turn of events, a newly adopted six-year-old girl lost her mother when the two were knocked down by a speeding car near Kottayam, police said on Monday.

Sali (46) was walking across a zebra crossing carrying the child, adopted two weeks ago, when the car hit them at Manarcad-Pattithanam bypass near Ettumanoor here on Sunday night and sped away.

While the woman died while being rushed to hospital, the girl, who was thrown off in the mishap, has been admitted to a private hospital with injuries.

The driver did not stop the car after the incident, police said, adding an investigation has been launched to nab him.

According to reports, Sali and her husband were childless and the couple had adopted the child two weeks ago. Sali, along with the girl, was returning home after visiting relatives to introduce them to the new member of her family.