An allegedly drunk driver who hit and seriously injured a nine-year-old boy south of Brisbane on Sunday night has been questioned by police and released without being charged.

The boy is in a critical condition in Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.

It is understood he was looking at Christmas lights with his family when he was struck at Springwood about 7.20pm on Sunday.

Police alleged a car driven by a 24-year-old man hit the boy after crashing into a parked car.

The out-of-control sedan then crashed into a house, causing substantial damage to the right-hand side.

Damage allegedly done to a neighbouring property. Photo: ABC News/Isabella Higgins.

Senior Sergeant Robin Taylor-Ward said it appeared that the driver had lost control of the car.

“It appears that a car had been attempting to turn right into Rholanda Crescent [and], for some reason, the driver has failed to make that turn, hitting the parked car and then the young boy,” she said.

The boy’s family provided first aid until paramedics arrived to take him to hospital, police said.

Neighbour Colin Frost said speed was also a factor.

“Careering down this road here this T-junction, approximately 80km/h or 90km/h, must have lost control of the wheel, hit a green car here,” he said.

“A poor boy … a nine-year-old walking with his sisters got hit, and then he (the driver) kept going over the trampoline and into the front wall of next door.”

Earlier today, police had indicated they expected to lay charges against the driver.