The family of two young brothers killed in a hit-and-run collision have described the pair as “happy, caring and lovely” children.
It came as Corey and Casper Platt-May, aged six and two, were named for the first time since they were mowed down by a car on Thursday in Coventry.
A 53-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and causing death by dangerous driving.
The boys’ mother, Louise Platt-May, who was not hurt in the incident, paid tribute to her “amazing”, “passionate”, “cheeky sons”.
“Corey was an amazing boy. He never kept still, always had to be doing something and coming up with new ideas of things to do....he will be deeply missed by all that had the pleasure of knowing him,” she said.
“Casper was a cheeky little boy, always getting into trouble and driving his brothers crazy. But he was so loving and caring and constantly told his family how much he loved them...his smile could light up any room and he will be so so missed by all who knew him.”
The boys’ grandfather, Kim May, who witnessed the aftermath of the crash, said it was like a “war zone”.
“It was just like a war zone out here. It looked like a bomb had just exploded, it was terrible,” he said.
Mr May urged the local authority to launch a crackdown on speeding drivers, saying: “It’s still going on, the speeding down this road, it’s ridiculous.”
Paying tribute to his grandsons, Mr May said: “The boys were the heart and soul, the boys were lovely, they’d do anything.
“They were just very happy, go-jolly, lovely boys and their lives have been taken away so young, it’s unbelievable.
“I just don’t know what to say, it’s just crazy.
“Corey was a very, very gifted footballer at a young age. Casper, he was like any two-year-old – he was just lovely.
“Corey, he loved his football, he played football every Saturday.”
The brothers were with their mother in MacDonald Road at around 2pm when they were struck by a black Ford Focus.
They were taken to hospital with severe injuries but both later died.
Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes, from West Midland Police’s collision investigation unit, said: “Several witnesses have come forward and I am grateful to everyone who has spoken to us.
“Specialist family liaison officers are with the family, who are understandably distraught, and they are being kept fully updated.
“This collision has had a profound effect on the community in Stoke and I would ask people not to speculate on what happened which may cause further distress to the family. They need our combined support to help them through this dreadful time.”
Additional reporting by PA
