A schoolboy was thrown from his scooter after being struck by an Ocado van in a hit and run in Southport.
Joshua Bootle was riding his scooter across Manchester Road on Saturday, April 10, on the way to the corner shop with his friend, when he was hit by a purple Ocado van at around 2.20pm.
Witnesses claim the 12-year-old was flung into the air and hit the bonnet of the van before the driver told him to "f*** off" and drove away, leaving him lying in the road.
A group of people living in a block of flats opposite rushed over to help Josh and called 999.
Josh's parents say he was later taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital where he spent the night on Saturday, having suffered from a bang to the head and slight injuries to his leg.
Parents Joshua Bootle and Alexandra Wallace, 31, who live nearby, got a knock at the door from Merseyside Police on Saturday to tell them what had happened.
Alexandra told the ECHO: "It was horrendous. It was my worst nightmare.
"Just the police at your door - you don't expect it, but then for that to come out of their mouth - 'your son has been involved in a hit and run' - it was horrible.
"I just can't imagine why someone would do something like that.
"Anything could have happened, another car could have come and not seen him in the road.
"That's why we are so thankful that there were people there, they ran over to help when it happened."
Merseyside Police are working with Ocado to identity the vehicle and driver involved after he failed to stop at the scene.
Witness accounts suggest that the driver was a white man, aged around 40-50 years old, with short dark/grey hair.
Joshua's parents would like to thank Matt Bailey, Caitlin Ahern and Chris Carnock, who helped their son after witnessing what happened and waited with him until the emergency services arrived.
Alexandra said: "There were five witnesses in total. They said that the driver shouted for Joshua to f*** off and then just drove off.
"It means a lot that, especially with how the driver swore at him and then drove off, that someone was there to comfort him."
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Josh suffered from a bang to head and was left with cuts and bruises after the incident.
He spent Saturday night in hospital and is now recovering at home.
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: "At around 2.20pm, emergency services were called to Manchester Road to reports of a collision between a purple Ocado van and a 12-year-old boy riding a scooter."
They added: "The driver of the van failed to stop and enquiries are ongoing to identify the vehicle and driver. Witness accounts suggest that the driver was white, male, 40-50 years old with short dark/grey hair."
"If you saw the incident or were passing and captured any dashcam or CCTV, please let us know via email rpiu@merseyside.police.uk, @MerPolCC on Twitter or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with reference 21000227693."
