A brave 10-year-old girl has died saving the lives of two toddlers.

A 10-year-old girl from California is being hailed a hero after she pushed two toddlers out of the path of a runaway SUV while the three were playing together.

The three children were playing in a driveway when a 1999 Mercedes suddenly started rolling, striking 10-year-old Kiera Larson.

At this stage, investigators are unsure as to why the car started rolling but have determined that Kiera was able to move the 2-year-old and 1-year-old to safety before being hit.

Alissa Jenkins, the mother of the two young toddlers has told Fox 5 that young Kiera Larson is a hero for her and her daughters.

Oh wow. Hero ten year-old sacrifices herself to save two toddlers https://t.co/gXHl3sWwW8

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) February 26, 2016

“She is truly a hero. She will forever be my kids’ guardian angel. She saved both my daughters’ lives,” she said. “These are my two kids that I have and both of them could’ve been gone in an instant and she stepped in and took over and did what she knows best to do — and that’s to protect those around her.” According to reports, Kiera suffered major injuries upon being hit by the car and was pronounced dead after being rushed to hospital. Jenkins’ fiancé Jonathan Gusich also told Fox5 he believed she was a “guardian angel” and said Kiera was always like a “big sister” to the girls.

10-Year-Old Hero Dies Saving Toddler From Runaway Car https://t.co/ZOhKsG0G9p — 970 WFLA (@970wfla) February 26, 2016

“She was always looking out for them ,” he said.

“I don’t know how to repay them, repay her. She must have been the guardian angel yesterday and they’re here because of her.”

According to a GoFundMe page set up by the young girls’ family described Kiera as “an amazing, beautiful, smart and funny little girl” who bought “so much love and happiness to so many people”.

*Feature image via GoFundMe/Our Sweet Kiera