Dad's heartbreak as boy, 7, killed in hit and run while running to catch ball
A young boy was killed in a shocking hit-and-run while he was running to catch a ball, his devastated father told the Mirror.
William Ian Brown, 7, died on Wednesday when he was hit by a vehicle in Folkestone, Kent, before one of the drivers fled the scene. A police manhunt is now underway as witnesses are urged to come forward.
His father, Will Brown, said his son was playing football when he went to collect his ball.
The boy had crossed the road when his dad said his son is believed to have been hit by the two vehicles, one of which stopped, and the other, a "silver-grey" van, which "kept driving."
Will Jr leaves behind his mother, Laura, and a six-year-old sister, Pearl.
Woman accused of killing student in hit-and-run 'thought she had hit a deer'
Urging people who saw the crash to come forward to Kent Police for his "baby boy", young Will's heartbroken dad told the Mirror: "My son pretty much died on the road. He was there for 40 minutes. It's a busy road - someone saw something, someone must know something."
William Ian Brown, 7, was killed when he was hit by a silver-grey van in Folkestone, Kent (Supplied)Will Brown told the Mirror: "The ball went over into the main road, and he managed to cross the road, a busy road, to get the ball but on his way back, we think this is what's happened according to the police, he got hit by two vehicles. One of them stopped, the other kept driving. We believe it to be a silver van, a silver-grey van. They [the driver] never stopped, they're still out there. My son pretty much died on the road.
"He was there for 40 minutes, and he died, my son. It's a busy road - someone saw something, someone must know something. We've got a video circulating explaining what happened, it's a busy road that, someone knows what's happened." He added: "I love you William."
William Brown’s mum, Laura Brown, 41, also paid tribute to her son. She said: “William was the sweetest, kindest and funniest boy. He was an amazing friend to his friends. He loved animals, history facts, nature and digging. He loved fossils and dinosaurs.
The family are urging anyone in Folkestone who may have seen the incident or aftermath to speak to police (Supplied)
His father, Will Brown, said his son was playing football when he went to collect his ball in an emotional video appeal (Supplied)“Anything weird and wonderful. He loved curiosities and oddities. He loved taxidermy. He had shark’s teeth and spiders, snake skins. He was a very unusual boy. For Christmas he wanted an octopus, so I got him a taxidermy one. He didn’t get to see it, it’s still wrapped. I’m going to put it in his coffin. He was just always in Will’s world. He was too kind for this world.
"If there was a question to ask he had to ask it. He needed to know the answers to everything. He loved football. He supported Manchester United like his dad. But his favourite player of all time was Ronaldo. He died in his Ronaldo kit.”
The family have shared a map showing where the incident took place, and dad Will has also released a video appeal for witnesses to come forward. Holding up a shirt reading 'Brownie Jr', the father said to the camera: "People of Folkestone and Hythe - can you please help us. At 5.35 last night we lost our son, who was hit in a hit-and-run trying to collect his football. The location was Sandgate Esplanade, which is when you're on just outside the Sandgate Hotel. It's the main road that overlooks the sea.
Floral tributes left in Folkestone, Kent for seven-year-old William Brown (ReachPLC)"There's a map attached where you can see exactly where this happened, if you have any information at all, any inklings or anything you saw when you drove past or anything at all, will you please reach out to Kent Police, so we can work out what happened to our boy. And if it was you that did it, William Jr was a beautiful boy and he believed in forgiveness and love and peace. We really need to know so we can lay our son in peace and know what happened to him."
The incident took place outside the Sandgate Hotel on on the A259 Sandgate Esplanade, near its junction with Prospect Road. The silver van left in the direction of Hythe. A Kent Police appeal read: "Officers are seeking information and dashcam footage following a fatal collision involving a child pedestrian in Folkestone. The collision happened at around 5.35pm on Wednesday 6 December 2023, on the A259 Sandgate Esplanade near its junction with Prospect Road. It involved two vehicles, an unidentified car or van and a red Citroen car.
The family have shared a map showing where the incident took place (Supplied)"The unidentified vehicle left the scene in the direction Hythe, prior to the arrival of emergency services. Police and ambulance crews attended and the child, a seven-year-old boy, was confirmed deceased at the scene. His next of kin have been informed."
Man fights for life after being hit by two different cars that both fled scene
Anyone who witnessed the collision, or who saw either the victim or vehicles in the moments leading up to it, has been urged by police to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798538, quoting reference MM/DGC/130/23. You can also email any information to [email protected].
Drivers in the area are also asked to check dashcams or CCTV for any footage that may assist the investigation. This includes footage prior to and after the crash.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
