A three-year-old boy is in critical but stable condition after a car struck him when he quietly slipped out of his Mississauga home in the early-morning hours.

The boy was able to leave the house without being detected at around 1 a.m. Wednesday. The accident occurred when he wandered onto Britannia Road, near Glen Erin Drive.

The person suspected in the accident fled the scene.

Paramedics transported the to Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children. The child is suffering from a broken leg and facial injuries.

Police canvassed the neighbourhood in an effort to find the boy's caregivers. The child's parents didn't realize he was missing until they were told by police.

"I saw the dad come out, he was obviously panicking and wondering where his kid was," said a neighbour. "He was in shock. He was rushed by a cop car to the hospital."

A section of Britannia Road was closed for several hours while police investigated the incident.

 A witness who saw the accident followed the suspect and tipped off police.

Syed Hoda, a 48-year-old Mississauga man, has been charged with fail to remain causing bodily harm.

He is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on July 13.