A boy, aged around 14, was knocked down and killed by a truck on Thursday on the N2 highway near the airport in Cape Town, paramedics said.

ER24 emergency services spokesperson Tristan Wadeley said three children ran across the highway around 4.10pm and were struck by a truck travelling towards Somerset West.

One of the boys was declared dead on scene.

The other two escaped with only minor injuries and were taken to the Red Cross Children's Hospital, said Wadeley.