The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Girl-deathwanted man fled country
A man seen running from the scene of a crash which killed a four-year-old girl is believed to have fled the country just hours later, police said.
Violet-GraceYouens died in her mother’s arms on Saturday, after she was struck by a stolen black Ford Fiesta while walking through StHelens, Merseyside, on Friday.
Her grandmother, Angela French, 55, was also injured in the crash and is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
Merseyside Police released CCTV images of two men fleeing the scene after the crash, which happened on Prescot Road at about 3pm on Friday.
OnMonday a 27-year-old manfromStHelenswasarrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Police said they were working with authorities abroad to locate a 23-yearold man who was believed to have left the country just hours after the collision.
Detective Chief InspectorChris Sephton said:“We believe that a second male, aged 23, who we would like to speak to, is abroad. He left approximately three hours after the incident.
“We have been in contact with the authorities of the country where we believe he is.”
Athird man, aged 23 and from Prescot, was arrested on suspicion of being carried in a stolen vehicle but later released pending further inquiries.
Violet- Grace’s mother, Rebecca Youens, paid tribute to her “brave baby girl“after she died in hospital.
“My beautiful baby girl passed away inmy arms on 25/03/2017 at 23:38,” she said in a Facebook post.