Advertisement

Essex hit-and-run: Man, 51, arrested on suspicion of murder after boy, 12, killed outside school in crash

Ross McGuinness
Updated
Essex hit-and-run: Man, 51, arrested on suspicion of murder after boy, 12, killed outside school in crash

A 12-year-old boy killed in a crash outside of an Essex school has been named locally as Harley Watson.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the boy and five others were hit by a car outside a school on Monday.

The 51-year-old man, from Loughton, Essex, was also held on suspicion of six counts of attempted murder and one of causing death by dangerous driving, said police.

In addition, he faces six offences of causing serious injury by driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision and driving without insurance.

The arrest came after Essex Police earlier announced they were searching for Loughton man Terry Glover over the incident.

Schoolboy Harley Watson, aged 12, has been named as the tragic young victim of the hit and run in Essex. (Facebook)
Schoolboy Harley Watson, aged 12, has been named as the tragic young victim of the hit and run in Essex. (Facebook)

Two 15-year-old boys, a 13-year-old boy, a 16-year-old girl, who were thought to be pupils at Debden Park High School in Loughton, and a 23-year-old woman were also injured when the car ploughed into them.

Officers had begun a manhunt as they tried to trace a silver Ford Ka, with the registration LS08 OKW, which is believed to have been damaged in the crash in Willingale Road.

Head teacher Helen Gascoyne said the school had been "devastated" by the death of one of its students and that pupils would be offered counselling on Tuesday.

A woman lays flowers at the entrance to Debden Park High School, in Loughton, Essex, as a murder investigation has been launched after a 12-year-old boy was killed when a car crashed into children.
A woman lays flowers at the entrance to Debden Park High School, in Loughton (PA)

Chief superintendent Tracey Harman said on Monday: "We believe that the collision was deliberate and as such we have launched a murder investigation.

Read more

Five more women come forward over claims Prince Andrew had sex with trafficked teenager

‘Habsburg Jaw’ seen in European kings ‘was caused by inbreeding’, researchers find

Paranoid schizophrenic found not guilty of murdering three pensioners he thought were paedophiles

"We are investigating whether or not this incident may have been connected with another incident nearby."

Earlier, Ms Harman said searches had been carried out to try to locate Glover, as she appealed directly to him to come forward.

Chief Superintendent Tracey Harman delivers a statement to the media outside of Loughton Police Station in Essex after a murder investigation was launched after a 12-year-old boy was killed when a car crashed into children near Debden Park High School. Police are searching for a silver Ford Ka believed to have been involved in the fatal collision (Photo by Rick Findler/PA Images via Getty Images)
Chief superintendent Tracey Harman speaks to the media outside Loughton Police Station in Essex (Picture: PA/Getty)
Undated handout photo issued by Essex Police of 51-year-old Terry Glover who police would like to speak to in connection with the murder investigation after a 12-year-old boy died in a hit-and-run collision near Debden Park High School on Willingale Road, Loughton.
Essex Police had appealed to find Terry Glover.

Police were called to the scene shortly after the end of the school day, at about 3.20pm on Monday.

East of England Ambulance Service sent 15 ambulances and 10 other vehicles, while three air ambulances were mobilised. The 12-year-old boy was taken to hospital where he died.

Forensic Officers in Willingdale Road near Debden Park High School, in Loughton, Essex, after a murder investigation was launched after a 12-year-old boy was killed when a car crashed into children. Police are searching for a silver Ford Ka believed to have been involved in the fatal collision (Photo by Rick Findler/PA Images via Getty Images)
Forensic officers in Willingdale Road near Debden Park High School after the crash (PA/Getty)

Essex Police said that the four teenagers and 23-year-old woman were treated at the scene or in hospital, and their injuries were not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening.

Detective chief inspector Rob Kirby said: "This has been a truly shocking incident and my deepest sympathies are with all those involved.”

Debden Park is a mixed academy school for pupils aged 11 to 18, which specialises in the performing arts and received a rating of "outstanding" in its most recent Ofsted inspection, according to its prospectus.