‘Go home and hug your children’ plea by mum of boy, 13, killed crossing road
A HEARTBROKEN mother yesterday urged parents to “go home and hug your children” after her son died when he was hit by a car.
Max Simmons, 13, was killed as he crossed the road near his home in Maidenhead, Berkshire, on Saturday afternoon. Max suffered head injuries after the collision with an Audi TT.
His mother, who has not yet been named, made an impassioned plea just days before Christmas.
“From one parent to all you parents out there, go home and hug your children,” she said.
“Just be there with them, hug them, tell them how much you love them, because Christmas presents are just stuff, love is free. Just love each other.” She thanked people for the kind messages they had sent.
She added: “It means a lot to know how much other people loved him. I always taught my kids to be street smart...brave and independent.”
The mother of two also thanked doctors and nurses at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, who treated Max.
She added: “It’s people like them that keep the NHS alive, and they worked as hard as they could to save my boy. Thank you all.” Max is survived by a brother. PC Joy Jarvis said: “I am urging anyone with any information about the collision to make contact with Thames Valley Police as soon as possible.
“I would particularly like to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision, saw the pedestrian or vehicle before the incident, or has any dashcam footage.”
A post-mortem is due to be carried out.
James Lavine, 34, of Wooburn Green, Bucks, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving. He is due to appear at Slough magistrates court today.