Tributes have been paid to a 10-year-old boy and his aunt who died after being hit by a car as it was chased by police in Penge, south-east London.
Makayah McDermott and Rosie Cooper, 34, were part of a group of pedestrians who were hit by the suspected stolen vehicle when it mounted a pavement on Wednesday afternoon. They were both declared dead at the scene.
Three girls, two believed to be Makayah’s older sisters and one thought to be Cooper’s daughter, were injured. They received treatment and were discharged from hospital on Thursday, police said.
Makayah was reported to be a young actor and had an audition for a part in a television series set in the 1950s last week.
He was described as “an incredible child” by Lisa Pitman, of Virtue TaeKwon-Do, with whom he had trained for several years. Pitman said: “We are in shock and gutted, such an incredible child, we have been teaching him since the age of four.
“This is the most tragic freak accident … the family are beautiful incredible caring people. They will be indescribably devastated, just as we are.”
On Thursday, a single red rose and a card addressed to “Rose’s family” lay on Cooper’s doorstep.
Cordons around the crash site have been removed, although two police officers remained, allowing mourners to leave floral tributes at the base of a tree nearby.
One note read: “There are some who bring a light so bright to the world that even after they have gone the light remains.”
Cooper’s neighbour, Jackie Francis, paid tribute to her, saying she often saw her with her nieces and nephews.
“We were neighbourly. She was a really nice girl. We would say hello as she came and went,” Francis said. “I just couldn’t believe it when I heard. She was a typical young mother, always with the children, she was very fond of her children. It’s just horrible. They were a close family, undoubtedly close.”
On Wednesday, police arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He remains in custody and police are appealing for witnesses.
Venissa Vassell, 18, heard sirens and a car screeching as she walked from a nearby railway station and said she immediately ran to help. She said there were twin girls trapped under the car, a black Ford Focus, and about 20 people came to lift the car up to free them.
The girls crawled out, but another girl, who was later taken away by ambulance, was shouting that she couldn’t feel her legs.
Floral tributes have been placed at the foot of a tree near the crash site. pic.twitter.com/EE40JNHzhp
— Jamie Grierson (@JamieGrierson) September 1, 2016
Vassell also said: “I did CPR on this lady. I blew in her mouth. It wasn’t working.”
Vassell said Makayah was fine one moment, but “by the time I came back to speak to the little girl to say ‘Your brother is all right’, he was passed out.” She said the incident “all happened too quick” and she could not explain what she had seen.
A man who lives near the crash site said a black car was being chased by two police BMWs when it tried to turn into Lennard Road.
“He lost control and ploughed into a family that was walking on the pavement down Lennard Road. People were trying to lift a car off a little girl. The police officers that were chasing were distraught,” the man said. “It was a horrific scene on a sunny afternoon in a sleepy place.”
The Metropolitan police said postmortem examinations were due to take place on Thursday at Princess Royal university hospital.
In a statement on Thursday, the force added: “LAS treated three other people – all girls – for injuries. The girls, two aged 13 and one aged eight, have received treatment and been discharged from hospital.
“All those injured in the collision were related to each other. Of those who died, the woman was the boy’s aunt.
“The driver of the car, a 23-year-old man, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and theft of a motor vehicle – he remains in custody at a south London police station.
“At this stage of the investigation it is believed he was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
“Inquiries into the collision continue by officers from the roads and transport policing command. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
The Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed of the incident, as has the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which will investigate the incident independently.
