It happened Friday night just before 8 pm on Avenue 256 and Road 159 -- that's southeast of Visalia.
California Highway Patrol officers say a 27-year-old man was driving on Avenue 256 and a two-year-old boy was playing in a driveway near the road.
As the car approached, the child ran into the road and was hit.
The young boy was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
The driver cooperated with officers at the scene. Drugs or alcohol are not factors in the crash.