A father today spoke of his devastation after his six-year-old son was hit and killed by a car.
David Williams died in hospital after being knocked down while he was visiting a family friend with his mother Lola and his three older sisters aged nine, 11 and 13.
His father Daniel, 46, said the family are distraught and struggling to cope with the loss. “Since the day he was born, it was like he was naturally going to be a smiley little boy, “ he said
“Nothing can take the image of him smiling away from me. My memory of him is as a happy, peaceful and innocent little boy. I will cherish that memory for ever.”
David died in hospital at 7.20pm on Thursday, an hour after the collision in Thamesmead, south-east London.
He was a pupil at Bexley Business Academy and was described as a “happy and bright” child who loved football and school.
Mr Williams, from Archway, said: “He would always ask me to take him to play football. He was brilliant at it.
“He liked school and enjoyed the work. I was told he was at the top of his class in his year. He was a very bright young boy. Everyone who met him could see how happy he was.
“He had three older sisters and they were very close. They are not coping well and need support from family and friends.
“I’m absolutely distraught. My only consolation is that we are Christians and we believe David has gone to be with the Lord. Otherwise I would never be able to recover from losing him.”
Witnesses said the boy’s mother scooped up her son in a frantic effort to get him to hospital and two men offered to drive them there. They were met by an ambulance en route and David was taken on to hospital by paramedics.
Nicole Carroll, 33, who lives near the scene, said: “I heard a loud noise and then I heard screaming. I ran out and by the time I got there the mum was being put into a car with her son by two men in their early twenties.
“The boy’s three young sisters were crying hysterically, so I went over and tried to comfort them. ”
The accident was in St John Fisher Road near the junction with Kale Road, which locals described as a dangerous spot.
“This road is not safe for any children,” Ms Carroll said. “I want to put together a petition for better road safety measures. There is a school nearby and lots of children on this estate. It’s very dangerous.”
The driver of the Honda CRV that hit David stopped at the scene but was not arrested. Witnesses are urged to call the police Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 020 8285 1574.
