Cops charge van driver with failing to stop after boy, 7, hit by two cars & killed while retrieving football

A VAN driver has been charged with failing to stop after a boy, 7, was hit by two cars and killed while retrieving a football.

William Brown tragically died at the scene of the horrific hit and run in Folkestone, Kent on December 6 last year.

An inquest previously heard how the youngster had been playing a game with pals in his front garden when the ball went over a wall.

When he went to retrieve it, he was struck by a van on the A259 Sandgate Esplanade.

This collision then pushed him into the pathway of another car, which also hit him.

His mother Laura Brown and her partner were tragically in the kitchen at the time at the time of the horror.

One of William's pals had run into the house, which leads onto the A259, screaming that he had been hit by a car.

Emergency services battled to save the young boy's for more than 45 minutes but he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

A cause of death was later given as severe head injuries.

Paying tribute, William's mum Laura Brown previously told the : "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."

Heartbroken dad William Brown Snr, also posted emotional appeals begging the public to "please help us" at the time.

He held up his beloved son's green football shirt as he filmed the appeal in his bedroom with teddy bears and a neon sign reading 'William' in the background.

Kent Police confirmed the horror had involved two vehicles, a red Citroen car and a grey Peugeot van.

The van is alleged to have fled the scene before emergency services arrived.

On Saturday, Stewart Powell, 49, was charged with failing to stop following a collision and with driving without insurance.

It is alleged that, at the time of the collision, although there was insurance in place for the vehicle, it was being driven outside the terms of that policy, the force spokesman said.

Powell has been bailed to appear before Folkestone Magistrates' Court on May 24.