Little Leo lucky to be alive after hit-and-run van horror in street
9:02am Wednesday 20th March 2013 in Local
A FIVE-YEAR-OLD boy is lucky to be alive after he was struck by a van in a hit-and-run horror.
Leo Simm was flung into the air and thrown past three houses.
Little Leo had been playing football in a park, off Victory Street, Bolton, when he decided to go with his sister, 11-year-old Charlotte Leader, to get an ice cream when the incident happened.
His mother, Chantay Leader, heard her daughter’s horrified screams and raced to see her young son underneath a parked car after being struck by the van.
Leo was unconscious for several minutes.
The driver of the van, believed to be a pharmaceutical delivery vehicle, did not stop.
Mrs Leader, aged 47, of Beverley Road, Bolton, said: “I went running over and saw my little boy. My first thought was that he was dead.
“I can’t believe that whoever was driving the van did not stop at the scene. I hope this will prick their conscience and they will come forward.
“They must know that they hit something. People described the sound as like going over a speed bump really fast.
“It was awful for my daughter and her friend to see it happen. They were distraught.
“Leo had got some new football boots and I got him a new ball earlier that day so we went out to play. We were having a really good time.”
The incident happened on Tuesday, March 12, at 4.40pm.
Leo, who attend Oxford Grove primary school, suffered head injuries and a broken collarbone. He was released from hospital on Friday.
Witnesses chased after the van but were unable catch it.
The driver went along Clarke Street, then Marsh Fold Lane to Chorley Old Road. It is thought it then headed towards Bolton.
Mrs Leader added: “He is really lucky to be alive, and the doctors say he doesn’t have any brain damage.
“He knows what happened to him. He has been very quiet since.
“I just want to make people aware about this and ask anyone who knows anything to contact the police. This person needs to be caught.”
Police said they are investigating the incident and that no arrests have been made yet.
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Comments(14)
MarkAllRead
says...
10:32am Wed 20 Mar 13
cliff4treasurer
says...
11:07am Wed 20 Mar 13
The driver must have seen the children as he approached them and not to check his mirror aftter he had "heard a noise like going over a speed bump realy fast" as described by a witness was careless driving at best and seeing it,knowing what had happened and then driving off at worst.
This will turn out to be a well know prescription delivery company van driven by yes you,ve guessed it!
boltonnut
says...
12:34pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Rememberscarborough
says...
12:53pm Wed 20 Mar 13
buckfuzzby
says...
3:25pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Rememberscarborough wrote:If the van hit the little boy hard enough to knock him past 3 houses, he would know if he'd hit something.
I've no idea if the driver knew what he'd done or not but if we all stopped every time we hit a large bump on Bolton's roads the whole place would grind to a standstill. Hope the little lad is okay and is back kicking a ball soon.
Even if you hit something as small as a rubber ball you can definitely hear it,also, it must have caught the lad with the front of the van to knock him as far as it did, a blow from the side would not have had the same effect.
My sympathies go out to the little boy and his family, I hope he is well and playing out with his friends again soon.
If the van driver reads this.. do the decent thing and turn yourself in.
PMW35/7
says...
4:20pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Hough64
says...
4:38pm Wed 20 Mar 13
PMW35/7 wrote:Sadly this is the way that the people on here think. A small minority have minds of their own and arent sheep though.
Not much chance of being innocent until proven guilty on this thread is there...?
mega bolton fan
says...
11:13pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Comment777
says...
4:57pm Thu 21 Mar 13
MarkAllRead wrote:Or to put it more directly NO ELEVEN YEAR OLD CHILD SHOULD BE UN-SUPERVISED AND DEFINITELY NOT ENTRUSTED WITH THE WELL BEING OF A FIVE YEAR OLD..sad situation that stupid irresponsible parents create another generation of similar parents...
The article seems to suggest that the driver was in some way at fault other than having driven away. Was this the case? Also, do parents allow 11 year olds to supervise 5 year olds across roads these days?
There is no defence to the actions of the driver although a mitigating factor would exist if he did not see the child and therefore did not know he had caused the child to be injured...
Comment777
says...
4:59pm Thu 21 Mar 13
boltonnut wrote:If the driver is employed by a pharmaceutical company then it is highly possible that he an inordinate amount of drugs with him or her...
The driver must have had a reason to not stop,drugs maybe? Before you scorn lets wait and see.If i'm wrong i'll hold my hand up. I hope the little feller is ok also his sister,it must be very traumatic for a 11year old to have the responsibility of looking after a 5 year old and seeing him hit by a vehicle.
Comment777
says...
5:01pm Thu 21 Mar 13
Rememberscarborough wrote:I shall second that except I hope when he is kicking his ball that he is supervised by a responsible adult...
I've no idea if the driver knew what he'd done or not but if we all stopped every time we hit a large bump on Bolton's roads the whole place would grind to a standstill. Hope the little lad is okay and is back kicking a ball soon.
Comment777
says...
5:05pm Thu 21 Mar 13
buckfuzzby wrote:How does his parent know he was 'knocked past 3 houses'...the boy's parent was not present when he was involved in the collision with the van..the eleven year old surely suffered from shock to a degree that seriously affected her recollection of the event...
Rememberscarborough wrote:If the van hit the little boy hard enough to knock him past 3 houses, he would know if he'd hit something.
I've no idea if the driver knew what he'd done or not but if we all stopped every time we hit a large bump on Bolton's roads the whole place would grind to a standstill. Hope the little lad is okay and is back kicking a ball soon.
Even if you hit something as small as a rubber ball you can definitely hear it,also, it must have caught the lad with the front of the van to knock him as far as it did, a blow from the side would not have had the same effect.
My sympathies go out to the little boy and his family, I hope he is well and playing out with his friends again soon.
If the van driver reads this.. do the decent thing and turn yourself in.
Comment777
says...
5:21pm Thu 21 Mar 13
mega bolton fan wrote:If the driver was driving recklessly, without caution or care he is of course liable to a punishment after a fair trial but if this very young child ran out in front of a van which was being driven within the rules prevailing in the area then the parent(s) of the child is/are at fault.
I'm sorry a few people seem to be missing the point there Gas been a child hit by. a van and the Driver has driven off we talking about a child not a cat I'm a father of 2 from that area and I know that cars and vans speed on that street I hope the catch the Driver and throw the book at him ban and possible prison this could have been slot worse what ever the police do it serves the driver right
My father suffered the anxiety being the driver of a vehicle involved in a collision with an admittedly old boy who ran from between parked cars on a tree lined street. My father did stop but the boy ran off so he was unable to properly enquire about any injuries. An hour later my father was questioned by the police the latter also spoke with the boy and his parents.
Following these enquiries it transpired then boy was wearing a snorkel jacket hood fastened fully greatly reducing his awareness of his surroundings especially on coming vehicles...they both survived to tell
mrswanderer says...
10:25am Wed 20 Mar 13