A gruesome hit and run left three ducklings dead near Collector?s Hill yesterday.

Eyewitnesses said two of the ducklings were killed instantly while a third died later from its injuries.

Andr? Tucker, an employee at the Esso Collector?s Hill TigerMarket, said the mishap occurred while the ducklings were crossing the road with their mother.

?They ran the ducks down and did not stop. It made me feel real sad,? he said.

?The driver must have seen them. It is daylight at 6.30 in the morning.

?After they were run over the mother duck was standing by the side of the road, trying to coach them along but there wasn?t anything she could do. Whoever did this did not care for animals.?

Philippa Mello, an inspector with the SPCA, said an eyewitness saw a taxi driving over the ducks, but cautioned that they may have been dead already.

Ms Mello said she may know the identity of the driver who killed the ducklings.

?This is something we have seen before with ducks and cats,? Ms Mello said.

?Some people think they are not worth the time to stop.

?We all drive too fast and do not remember that we share the road with more than just other drivers.?

Mr. Tucker said that he often went to the pond across South Road to throw bread to the ducks.

?Who is in that much of a hurry that they have to hit a family of ducks?? he asked.