A 29-year-old woman entered the lot of the Dixon Landing Apartments at 29371 Dixon St. at about 3:15 p.m. when the vehicle struck the boy, Lt. Bryan Matthews said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
"It appears ... the driver and the child are not related but lived in the same complex," Matthews said.
He said the incident is an "absolute tragedy" and that "it doesn't appear there is anything criminal at this point."
The driver has been cooperating with police during their investigation, and officers are continuing to interview witnesses, Matthews said.
He did not know whether the boy was being supervised when the accident happened.
The accident prompted a temporary closure of Dixon Street between Valle Vista Avenue and Industrial Parkway West.
Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to call the Hayward Police Department's traffic bureau at (510) 293-7099.