The heartbroken mother of a boy killed in a hit and run has said her son will be buried with his unopened Christmas presents.
William Brown, seven, was confirmed dead near the corner of Prospect Road in Sandgate, Folkestone, Kent, after the crash involving a red Citroen car and an unidentified car or van which sped from the scene towards Hythe at about 5.35pm on Wednesday (December 6).
The youngster’s father, who shares the same name, said his son was hit as he was trying to collect his football. William’s mum, Laura Brown, 41, paid tribute to her son, describing him as the “sweetest, kindest and funniest boy” who “loved animals, history facts, nature and digging”.
A fan of taxidermy, William wanted an octopus for Christmas so his mum bought him one which had been preserved in the same way. She said: “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.”
Beauty therapist Laura told the Mirror William was playing with two friends in the front garden where they had been playing for years since he was born.
Laura said she was making pasta downstairs and the pals had just come in because William had just tackled his friend. They were told to “play nicely” with “dinner ready in a minute”. She continued: “And then I went back to stir the pasta and his friend came in and said, ‘Will’s been hit by a car’. He’d jumped over the wall.
“It’s so strange because he’d never done that before. Maybe he was excited by the game and just got totally carried away – I don’t know.
“But he’s never done it before – none of those boys have. We let them play in the garden because we thought it was safe. The garden should be safe.”
She then described rushing out to her son’s side, where she lay next to him as paramedics battled to save William’s life. Speaking to the driver of the unidentified vehicle, Laura said: “To the person that did this, please please come forward so we can be at peace and bury Will knowing we got justice for him.
“Somebody must know something. I’m begging people to come forward so we can lay Will to rest. We’re just so broken. I’m just praying for a miracle.” William Brown Senior, speaking from his son’s bedroom, said: “People of Folkestone and Hythe, could you please help us.
“At 5.35pm last night, Wednesday, December 6, we lost our son who was hit in a hit-and-run trying to collect his football.” Mr Brown, 34, added: “Please reach out to Kent Police so we can work out what happened to our son.
“And if it was you that done it, William Junior was a beautiful boy and he believed in forgiveness and love, and peace, 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.”
Laura said William’s younger sister, Pearl, is struggling to come to terms with his death. She added: “He’s got a little sister who’s six who just can’t understand it. We were just about to have dinner and her dad told her ‘Will’s dead’.
“She said, ‘I don’t understand it, he’s playing football in the garden.’ She’s devastated. They were like twins. They were only 13 months apart. Will adored Pearl from the day she was born.”
Any witnesses or drivers with dashcam footage are urged to contact Kent Police.
