A 'celebrity' runner who was well-known in his local area for going jogging topless regardless of the weather was killed after struck by a stolen car.
Police today confirmed that David Francis - known as the Litherland Running Man - was the person killed in the incident in Netherton, Merseyside, last Thursday evening.
The 60-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
A spokesman for Merseyside Police said no arrests have been made, as of yet.
Tributes have flooded in on Facebook, while a GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for Mr Francis' funeral.
Claire Woolvine said: "Hurts my heart this and I never knew him.
"When something so tragic happens so close to home. It hits hard...My thoughts go out to his family and friends.
"Litherland Running Man R.I.P (Dave Francis)."
Chris Campbell said: "Whenever we’d be out in the car I’d always be looking out for him saying 'there he is kids - The Litherland Running Man'.
"The kids knew him as LRM too. He was a machine, he ran effortlessly, he just ran for the love of running.
"He was our very own modern day Forrest Gump.
"I don’t think he actually knew how locally famous he was.
"He was a legend and he was our legend.
"I hope his family take a little bit of comfort in how much everyone followed his movements, his life and had a real admiration for that man who ran without a top and half of tubi grip on his left calf.
"RIP - Dave Francis - (AKA The Litherland Running Man)."
Emergency services attended the scene at around 9.05pm after reports a dark coloured Audi S8 had crashed into a house on Morgan Mews.
At the scene, police, ambulance and fire crews found a man had also been hit by a car.
The man who was driving the car, which is suspected to have been stolen during a previous burglary, ran away from the scene on foot.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service also attended the scene and a structural assessor will decide if the property is structurally sound and safe.
Detective Inspector Colin Rennison said: "We are in the very early stages of establishing the circumstances of this incident.
"Officers are currently at the scene and house-to-house enquiries are being carried out. We will also be checking CCTV and smart doorbell footage from the area in a bid to identify the male who was driving the vehicle.
"We are interested in hearing from anyone who may have seen a dark-coloured Audi S8 being driven in the area before the collision occurred. Any information you have, however small you may think it is, could prove to be vital to our enquiries."
A force spokesman told the Mirror this morning: "The victim has been confirmed this morning as David Francis and NOK are aware.
"There’s no further updates with regards to the investigation itself."
For the GoFundMe page, click here.
