Family’s grief for ‘lovely, kind’ boy, 12, killed in school hit-run
THE devastated family of a 12-yearold pupil killed in a hit and run outside his school gates remembered him last night as a “good, kind, helpful and lovely boy”.
Grieving relatives of Harley Watson issued a brief tribute after friends and teachers laid flowers and messages throughout the day near the scene of the tragedy.
Popular Harley had just left Debden Park High with classmates when a silver Ford Ka mounted the pavement and ploughed into them.
Five other youngsters aged 12 to 16 and a woman of 23 were injured in the mid-afternoon horror in Loughton, Essex, on Monday.
The statement from Harley’s family, issued through Essex Police, said: “We are so devastated by what has happened. Harley was a good, kind, helpful and lovely boy.
“We would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes and concern. However as a family we would like people to respect our privacy and allow us to grieve in peace.”
Last night a 51-year-old man was being questioned on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and causing death by dangerous driving.
The man had been arrested in a vehicle in the car park of The Merry Fiddlers pub, in tiny Fiddlers
Hamlet several miles away, eight hours after the crash.
The force said it had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) based on previous contact between them and the arrested suspect.
Meanwhile officers pacing slowly side by side carried out a painstaking search of the road and pavement around the crash scene.
Debden Park’s executive head teacher Christian Cavanagh said staff and pupils would have a formal commemoration of Harley’s “young life so tragically lost”.
Mr Cavanagh added: “This young man had made his mark on the school and was liked and loved by staff and students.”
Headteacher Helen Gascoyne said the school had been “devastated” by the death of one of its students and that pupils were being offered counselling.
Tearful children, parents and other residents gathered outside the school gates where flowers and messages of sympathy were placed.
Among them was a card from a friend named Edith who wrote: “I will miss you so much. Fly high.”
Another, from Eden, added: “RIP Harley, Gone but never forgotten. Fly high little bro, Gods gained the funniest angel.”
Another well-wisher left a yellow football with the handwritten message: “Sleep tight little man – little about man with a big heart.” Police said the other children who survived the crash were boys aged 15, 13 and 12 and a 16-year-old girl.
The mother of 15-year-old survivor Alfie Barnes told how he was “battered and bruised” in the crash.
Donna Mills said: “He remembers the car coming towards him and getting hit, but it is a bit of a blur.
“He hit his head and I think he blacked out for a bit. Alfie rang me and said, ‘Mum, I have been hit by a car’ so I shot down there. It was horrendous. It was horrible to see, kids laying on the floor, just terrible.” Essex Police said: “We have a team of detectives working tirelessly to establish the circumstances and we are supporting the families of all those involved.
“We are aware of speculation around specific elements of contact between the force and the suspect. We are unable to offer comment.”
On Monday evening police had issued an urgent appeal for information about Terry Glover, 51, who lives close to the school.
Rector of Loughton Chris Davies, who spent yesterday at the school with counsellors offering comfort to pupils, said: “The children who witnessed it were very upset.”
Police are also investigating the possibility that the driver had been involved in an almost identical incident the same afternoon.
Officers said they had reports of a car mounting the pavement near Loughton’s Roding Valley High School, roughly 10 minutes earlier.
Det Chief Insp Rob Kirby appealed for anyone who saw a silver Ford Ka between 2.40pm and 3.45pm on Monday to contact police, especially if they have CCTV or dash cam footage.
Chief Supt Tracey Harman said the tragedy had brought “trauma and distress to the community”.
She added: “I have seen firsthand the impact this incident has had locally.”
Friends and well-wishers have set up a fundraising page in Harley’s memory, which had raised more than £30,000 by yesterday evening.
You can donate to the page at gofundme.com/f/harley-watson