4-year-old boy fighting for his life after ‘hit-and-run’ crash pleads guilty as family shares urgent defense of 18-year-old driver – The Sun

A LITTLE boy is fighting for his life after a ‘hit and run’ crash as his family make an urgent appeal.

A car driven by James Doherty left the road and collided with four-year-old Carlos Crane and a teenage woman.

3

3

3

Doherty, 18, of no fixed address, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He was charged following the collision in the Lawrence Weston area of ​​Bristol shortly before 2pm on November 17.

While little Carlos remained in the hospital in critical condition, the woman injured her leg and was discharged to continue her recovery.

The little boy’s family set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help the hospital with taxi fares and Christmas gifts for the children.

His family wrote: “Our sweet four-year-old son Carlos was recently involved in a devastating hit-and-run incident that left him with life-changing injuries.

“He is currently receiving intensive care in hospital and while we are doing everything we can to stay strong for him, the road ahead is long and uncertain.

“This accident turned our world upside down and shook the family to its core.”

They added: “As parents, we are balancing the emotional burden of supporting Carlos through his recovery while trying to keep our other children’s lives as stable as possible.

“The costs of going to the hospital every day and providing food and basic needs to the family are skyrocketing.

“With Christmas approaching and everyone out of work due to this tragic event, we are worried that our children will not get the Christmas they deserve.”

After more than 200 donations, more than £4,000 of the £5,000 target was raised in just a few days.

Doherty fled the scene following the collision but was arrested by police on Sunday afternoon.

Police said the man appeared before Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

David Paniccia Brown, a serious collision investigator, said: “Doherty’s driving was completely careless and left a very young child in hospital with incredibly serious injuries.

“His decision to drive in a way that endangered lives and to flee immediately after the collision to avoid the consequences of his actions, rather than trying to help, was cowardly.

“Our thoughts are with the boy’s family, who have been informed of this development and continue to be supported by specially trained officers.

“I would like to thank all the officers who enabled us to quickly present a strong case to the court and secure this conviction.”

Doherty was remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing hearing at Bristol Crown Court on December 17.

Avon and Somerset Police said the incident had caused concern within the Lawrence Weston community.

Officers have carried out additional assurance patrols in the area since Sunday.