William Brown: Man bailed after boy, 7, killed in crash
- By Christian Fuller
- BBC News
8 December 2023
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A man has been bailed after a seven-year-old boy was killed in a suspected hit-and-run crash in Kent.
William Brown was hit as he walked in Sandgate Esplanade in Folkestone at 17:35 GMT on Wednesday.
A 49-year-old from the Dymchurch area was arrested on Thursday and has since been bailed, police said.
Officers have issued a renewed appeal for information following the fatal crash, which happened near the junction with Prospect Road.
Police said the crash involved two vehicles - a red Citroen car and a grey Peugeot van, which left the scene prior to the arrival of emergency services.
William was confirmed dead at the scene.
On Thursday evening, a 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 bailed to return to the police station in March, pending further inquiries.
The boy's father, William Brown Sr, said his son was "a beautiful boy", who had been killed while trying to cross the road to collect his football.
William's mother, Laura Brown, broke down as she told the BBC: "He was the sweetest boy in the world, so soft and gentle.
"Someone killed my son and left him in the middle of the road," she said.
"Please help us find this person. I'm begging you. Do it for William."
William was a pupil at St Eanswythe's Church of England Primary School in Folkestone.
The Rev Dr John Walker, vicar of St Mary and St Eanswythe's Parish Church, said: "I was with the staff yesterday morning.
"They were in shock and in tears, and somehow they've had to pull that together to ensure that the children come first.
"They're trying to keep things as normal as possible for those kids, but also to help those children come to terms with the loss of one of their own."
Some local people are calling for road safety improvements in the area where the boy died.
Duena Blonstrom said: "There's got to be a way to make it safer for our kids.
It's just terrifying."
Mayor of Folkestone, Belinda Walker, said: "Every time we say 'you need a crossing there', it gets knocked back.
"The fact it's such a busy road and drivers have got to keep their eye on so much, people trying to cross, you've got the beach on one side, houses on the other, the more crossings down there, the better."
Witnesses and those with CCTV or dashcam footage are being asked to contact police.
