Parents of boy killed in 'hit and run' found out after friend came running home

22 December 2023 , 12:58

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William Brown with his dad, William snr

The grief-stricken parents of a little boy who was killed in an alleged hit and run found out the tragic news when his friend came running into their kitchen, an inquest heard.

William Brown, seven, was struck by a van as he tried to retrieve a football outside his house. He had been playing with friends in his front garden and, after the ball was kicked over the wall, William climbed it in a bid to get it back.

But the youngster suffered catastrophic head injuries after he collided with the van, and then another vehicle on Sandgate Esplanade near Folkestone, Kent. His mum Laura Brown was told about the accident by one of William's friends, who ran into the kitchen shouting that he had been hit by a car.

William's inquest, which was opened today in Maidstone, Kent, was told the boy died at the scene despite ambulance and air ambulance crews working for more than 45 minutes to save him on December 6. Katrina Hepburn, Area Coroner for Canterbury and South East Kent, said: "Ordinarily the boys would've told an adult, who would've gone to retrieve the ball, or asked someone to throw it back over the wall. But on this occasion William decided to jump over the wall to get it back. In doing so, a van collided with William, causing him to move into the pathway of another car, which hit him.

"William suffered catastrophic head injuries, and despite being worked on by the ambulance and air ambulance crews for over 45 minutes, he was pronounced dead at the scene."

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The youngster was hit by a van when he tried to retrieve a football earlier this month

Laura, 41, identified William's body to police at the scene of the crash. She and William senior were not present at the inquest, which was suspended today pending criminal investigation. There is "reasonable cause to suspect William has died in circumstances where an investigation is necessary," the hearing was told.

Speaking to the Mirror previously, William Senior, 34, had said: "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... 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."

Laura, who is a beauty therapist, and her partner had asked Church of England to allow for him be buried in the ancient graveyard where he played every day after school. However, the last recorded burial at the ancient church was in the Victoria era, at around 1860.

William was described as 'the sweetest, kindest and funniest boy'

Speaking previously, the mum 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. 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."

Will Snr, who is separated from Laura, added: "Will was a really forgiving boy. He was accepting and loving and patient and kind.
"I honestly think if he was here today, he would probably say 'I was just going to get the football dad, I just made a mistake.'"

A 49-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision, and perverting the course of justice. He was later bailed to return to the police station on 6 March 2024, pending further enquiries.

Emily-Jane Heap