Boy, 9, dies in hospital after he was ‘run over by a man, 24, while drink driving’ on Christmas Day – as his family says they ‘believe in the power of forgiveness’ after tragedy
Published: 07:20 BST, twenty seven December two thousand sixteen | Updated: 13:48 BST, twenty seven December two thousand sixteen
The youthful son of a pastor hit by a utility truck on Christmas Day in front of his brother has tragically died.
Josiah Sisson , 9, was just around the corner from his home looking at Christmas lights with his older brother on a quiet residential street in Springwood, south of Brisbane, when a utility truck allegedly veered off the road and ran over him on Sunday night.
The ‘exceptionally happy-go-lucky, joyful little boy’ was taken to Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in critical condition, before he passed away on Tuesday evening.
A Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital spokesperson confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that Josiah’s family made the tragic decision to turn off his life support on Tuesday.
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Josiah Sisson, 9, who was hit by a utility truck on Christmas Day, died on Tuesday evening
Josiah’s family made the tragic decision to turn off his life support on Tuesday
Family friend pastor Peter Field made a brief statement mid-afternoon confirmed the passing of the youthful boy.
‘[Josiah’s family] believe in the power of forgiveness and they’re now processing this and they’re moving forward.’
‘They have another youthfull son and as you can imagine they are all now attempting to come to terms with the loss of this little boy, as nobody would ever anticipate something like this would happen to you on Christmas.
‘They want to say thank you particularly to the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital who have done an absolutely outstanding job . the service and the care they’ve given has been nothing brief of sublime.’
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The family further asked for privacy as they attempt to process their trouble over the loss of Josiah.
Mourners gathered on the street where the tragic incident occurred on Tuesday evening, joined by friends of the alleged drink-driver Adrian Murray, the Courier Mail reports.
Murray’s friends appeared to be apologising during the emotional scene as the groups cried and embraced one another.
The ‘exceptionally happy-go-lucky, joyful little boy’ was taken to Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in critical condition, before he passed away on Tuesday evening
Adrian Murray (pictured) wished for death after hitting the nine-year-old boy on Christmas Day
Police allege Murray was three-times over the limit when he careered off the road and hit Josiah before smashing through a hedge, collecting a water tank and crashing into a house
Josiah (pictured) was just around the corner from his home looking at Christmas lights with his older brother before tragedy struck
Witnesses who came upon the confronting scenes on Christmas Day said the boy’s mother broke down as soon as she laid eyes on her son, while his father spoke with him to keep him dissipated from his injuries before he was rushed to hospital.
Neighbours rushed out after hearing the eldest brother’s blood-curdling screams and despairingly performed CPR on the gravely injured boy as his mother and father ran to the scene.
Witnesses allege driver Adrian Murray attempted to switch roles his car, but his engine gave out leaving him beside himself – screaming and ‘wishing he could die’ as the boy lay bleeding on the street nearby, the Courier Mail reported.
‘It is very tragic.. [the mother] was there within minutes and spotted her son on the street. It is traumatising,’ a pastor from the family’s church told Daily Mail Australia.
‘The children had just gone to look at Christmas lights. You wouldn’t consider something bad like this was going to happen.
‘They were just up the street, there isn’t even a highway or freeway nearby.’
Family friend pastor Peter Field made a brief statement mid-afternoon confirmed the passing of the youthful boy
Josiah Sisson, 9, was taken to Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital (pictured) in critical condition, before he passed away on Tuesday evening
Confronting photos of the scene display bloodied towels laying abandoned on the pathway in front of a green parked car that was decimated in the smash
Photos of the ‘carnage’ display bloodied towels laying abandoned on the pathway in front of a green parked car that was decimated in the smash.
‘The mum threw up in our garden and the dad just kept attempting to talk to his son. Mum was hysterical,’ neighbour Lin Stiles told the Courier Mail.
Ms Stiles – whose home was bruised by the allegedly speeding driver – said the boy ‘didn’t look good’ and was bleeding intensely as nurses who were on the scene tended to his wounds.
‘He was bleeding a lot from his head and numerous bod parts. One of his arteries had to be stopped so he wouldn’t bleed out from his gam,’ she said.
Family friend pastor Peter Field made a brief statement mid-afternoon confirmed the passing of youthfull boy after he was struck by a car later seized by police
Police allege Mr Murray collided with a parked car (pictured) before hitting the youthfull boy
Witnesses said the car tore through a hedge, hit a water tank before catapulting into a house
Police have alleged the driver was three-times over the legal drinking limit when he careered off the road and hit the youthfull boy before smashing through a hedge, collecting a water tank and crashing into a house.
Witnesses claim he passed out once the gravity of the situation commenced to bury in.
Mr Murray’s car was seized from the scene and his licence suspended.
He was released from police custody without charge after being questioned by investigators from the Forensic Crash Unit on Monday.
But a police spokesperson said officers are expecting the 24-year-old to be charged with a string of offences including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle on Tuesday.
Witnesses claim Mr Murray attempted to switch sides the vehicle and flee the scene, but his engine gave out and he was left to take in the devastation he allegedly caused