Folkestone ‘hit and run’: Kent police arrest man, 49, after boy, 7, dies in car crash
Tragedy struck on Wednesday in Folkestone when seven-year-old William Ian Brown suffered fatal injuries when he was hit by a vehicle before one of the drivers fled the scene, sparking a police manhunt
The heartbroken family of a boy killed in a hit-and-run horror have made an emotional appeal to the driver to hand themselves in.(Will Brown Snr / SWNS)A man has been arrested in connection with the hit and run in Folkestone that killed a young boy. 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."
Parents Laura and William Brown are seen breaking down in tears during their desperate appeal for information(ITV Meridian)In a statement on its website, Kent Police confirmed an arrest had been made. It reads: "A man has been arrested following a fatal collision involving a child pedestrian in Folkestone. "At around 5.15pm on Thursday 7 December, a 49-year-old man from the Dymchurch area was arrested and taken into custody."
Will Jr leaves behind his mother, Laura, and a six-year-old sister, Pearl. Urging people who saw the crash to come forward to Kent Police[1] 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."
The youngster died on the scene from his injuries
His parents pleaded for people who saw the crash to come forward
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."
The crash site in Sandgate, Folkestone (PA)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.
References
- ^ Kent Police (www.mirror.co.uk)