A horrific scene unfolded in northeast Toronto Sunday night, when a woman and a child plunged from an overpass into the westbound lanes of Highway 401.

The incident took place at approximately 7 p.m. at Morningside, and reports indicate the pair was struck by at least one passing vehicle.

The woman, who has not been confirmed as the boy's mother, died at the scene, while the boy, between four and five years old, was rushed to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Unconfirmed reports say the woman threw the child off of the overpass, before following him down.

A female driver who struck the pair is being treated for shock.

"I've been at a lot of collisions and a lot of jumpers of bridges ... I don't know about something like this with a child," said OPP Const. Dave Woodford.

Police, gathered on both sides of the 401 and on the overpass, also say a passerby was talking to the woman right before she went over the bridge.

People that caught even the later moments of the tragic events are understandably disturbed.

"I just saw the lights and I wanted to see what was going on," said Nathan Foster, who lives nearby.

"I couldn't believe it was actually true, I thought the guy that told me was joking. I'm shocked."

The incident offers a chilling reminder of March 2005, when a father jumped with his daughter from the Don Mills overpass. In that case the father died but the daughter survived.

"When there's children involved in any kind of thing, it's just horrific," said Const. Woodford.