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Pictured: Brothers aged two and six killed in Coventry crash as 'hit-and-run' driver is arrested

Ellen Manning

A mother whose two sons were killed in an alleged hit-and-run has described them as “amazing” and “cheeky” boys who will “be deeply missed”.

Casper and Corey Platt-May, aged two and six, died after being hit by a car in Coventry on Thursday afternoon.

A man, 53, and a 41-year-old woman were later arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and causing death by dangerous driving.

<em>Hit-and-run – two brothers aged two and six died after they were hit by a car in Coventry on Thursday afternoon (Picture: Caters)</em>
Hit-and-run – two brothers aged two and six died after they were hit by a car in Coventry on Thursday afternoon (Picture: Caters)

In a statement released by West Midlands Police, the boys’ mother Louise Platt-May paid tribute to her sons.

She said: “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.

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“He loved school more than any kid I know. His favourite subject was maths. But his main passion in life was his football. He has been playing for a local team since he was four but since the day he could hold a ball he was never without one.

“He will be deeply missed by all that had the pleasure of knowing him.”

She added: “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. He loved walking everywhere with his wellies and splashing in the puddles.

“His smile could light up any room and he will be so so missed by all who knew him.”

<em>The boys’ grandfather Kim May (pictured right) described them as “happy, jolly, lovely boys” (Picture: SWNS)</em>
The boys’ grandfather Kim May (pictured right) described them as “happy, jolly, lovely boys” (Picture: SWNS)

The brothers were with their mother in the Stoke area of Coventry at around 2pm on Thursday when they were hit by a black Ford Focus.

Both were taken to hospital with severe injuries. Casper could not be revived and died a short time later, while Corey was rushed into surgery,but later died. Their mother was unhurt.

Earlier, the boys’ grandfather Kim May visited the scene of the incident in the Stoke area of Coventry accompanied by his sister and the boys’ aunt, where he placed a football alongside other tributes.

Describing his grandsons’ deaths as an “absolute nightmare”, he said: “It was just like a war zone out here. It looked like a bomb had just exploded, it was terrible”.

<em>Tributes – flowers are being left at the scene where the boys were hit on Thursday afternoon (Picture: SWNS)</em>
Tributes – flowers are being left at the scene where the boys were hit on Thursday afternoon (Picture: SWNS)

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.”

Mr May urged the local authority to introduce speed-calming measures, saying: “It’s still going on, the speeding down this road, it’s ridiculous.”

<em>Wreckage – two people have been arrested after a black Ford Focus was found abandoned (Picture: PA)</em>
Wreckage – two people have been arrested after a black Ford Focus was found abandoned (Picture: PA)

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.”

(Top picture: Caters/SWNS)