Devastated family of boy killed in hit-and-run horror make emotional appeal to driver
SWNS
2023-12-07
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The heartbroken father of a boy killed in a hit-and-run horror has made an emotional appeal to the driver to hand themselves in.
Seven-year-old William Brown was collecting his football from the road when he was knocked down and “left dying” in the street.
He was pronounced dead at the scene in Sandgate, near Folkestone, yesterday evening [WED].
The driver remains at large.
Fighting back tears, the boy's father, Will Brown Snr, made a video appeal from his "beautiful" boy's bedroom.
Mr Brown said: "People of Folkestone and Hythe, could you please help us.
"At 5.35pm last night, Wednesday, November 6, we lost our son who was hit in a hit-and-run trying to collect his football.
"Can you please help us? If you have any information at all, any inkling, or anything you saw when you drove past, or anything at all."
Mr Brown held up his beloved son's green football shirt as he filmed the appeal in his bedroom.
Behind him are teddy bears and a neon sign bearing William’s name.
"Please reach out to Kent Police so we can work out what happened to our son,” continued Mr Brown,
"And if it was you that done it, William Jnr was a beautiful boy and he believed in forgiveness and love, and please, we already forgive you.
"If it's you, you're feeling guilty, but we really need to know so we can lay our son in peace and know what happened to him."
William leaves behind dad Will, mum Laura, step-mum Vicky Phillips, and a six-year-old sister, Pearl, with whom he was “the best of friends”.
Police and ambulance crews had rushed to the town centre following the incident, but despite efforts to save his life, William died at the scene.
Officers have now issued an appeal for anyone with information or dashcam footage to come forward.
They say the collision happened 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 unidentified vehicle left the scene in the direction of Hythe, before the arrival of emergency services.
Anyone who witnessed the collision, or who saw either the victim or vehicles in the moments leading up to it, is urged to contact police.
Drivers are also asked to check dashcams or CCTV for any footage that may help the investigation, including footage in the area before and after the incident, which can be submitted to the police here.
Local residents say they were left traumatised and unable to sleep after the tragic incident.
One said: "We're really shaken up by what we saw, we've hardly slept.
“It's becoming more dangerous crossing that road and there are increasing numbers of people who need to cross it."
A Kent Police spokesperson said: "It involved two vehicles, an unidentified car or van and a red Citroen car.
"The unidentified vehicle left the scene in the direction Hythe, prior to the arrival of emergency services."
Seven-year-old William Brown was collecting his football from the road when he was knocked down and “left dying” in the street.
He was pronounced dead at the scene in Sandgate, near Folkestone, yesterday evening [WED].
The driver remains at large.
Fighting back tears, the boy's father, Will Brown Snr, made a video appeal from his "beautiful" boy's bedroom.
Mr Brown said: "People of Folkestone and Hythe, could you please help us.
"At 5.35pm last night, Wednesday, November 6, we lost our son who was hit in a hit-and-run trying to collect his football.
"Can you please help us? If you have any information at all, any inkling, or anything you saw when you drove past, or anything at all."
Mr Brown held up his beloved son's green football shirt as he filmed the appeal in his bedroom.
Behind him are teddy bears and a neon sign bearing William’s name.
"Please reach out to Kent Police so we can work out what happened to our son,” continued Mr Brown,
"And if it was you that done it, William Jnr was a beautiful boy and he believed in forgiveness and love, and please, we already forgive you.
"If it's you, you're feeling guilty, but we really need to know so we can lay our son in peace and know what happened to him."
William leaves behind dad Will, mum Laura, step-mum Vicky Phillips, and a six-year-old sister, Pearl, with whom he was “the best of friends”.
Police and ambulance crews had rushed to the town centre following the incident, but despite efforts to save his life, William died at the scene.
Officers have now issued an appeal for anyone with information or dashcam footage to come forward.
They say the collision happened 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 unidentified vehicle left the scene in the direction of Hythe, before the arrival of emergency services.
Anyone who witnessed the collision, or who saw either the victim or vehicles in the moments leading up to it, is urged to contact police.
Drivers are also asked to check dashcams or CCTV for any footage that may help the investigation, including footage in the area before and after the incident, which can be submitted to the police here.
Local residents say they were left traumatised and unable to sleep after the tragic incident.
One said: "We're really shaken up by what we saw, we've hardly slept.
“It's becoming more dangerous crossing that road and there are increasing numbers of people who need to cross it."
A Kent Police spokesperson said: "It involved two vehicles, an unidentified car or van and a red Citroen car.
"The unidentified vehicle left the scene in the direction Hythe, prior to the arrival of emergency services."
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