FOUR children have been detained after allegedly stealing a car and mowing down an elderly woman before fleeing the scene .

Cecilia De Astis, 71, died after being struck by an out-of-control vehicle while walking in the Italian city of Milan on Monday.

The grandma had just left a lunch at the “House of Solidarity” - run by the Brothers of St. Francis - in her local Gratosoglio neighbourhood when the tragic incident occurred, reports Italian outlet La Stampa .

Local police took four children - aged between 11 and 13 - into custody on suspicion of vehicular homicide aggravated by failure to provide assistance.

The children were identified by the T-shirts they were wearing, which had been caught on surveillance cameras from a nearby shop.

Under Italian law , children under 14 ar

See Full Page