Josiah Sisson, who was only nine, was struck on Christmas Day.
The family of a nine-year-old boy from Logan in Brisbane who was hit by an alleged drunk driver on Christmas Day has made the agonising decision to turn off his life support.
Astonishingly, friends of the family say they are willing to forgive the man accused of running him down.
The little boy had been looking at Christmas lights with his sisters at around 7:30PM on Christmas Day when tragedy struck.
Police say 24-year-old Adrian Murray, who was a neighbour o the family, was allegedly three times over the limit when he made a dangerous turn, first hitting a parked car and then striking the little boy.
Josiah’s life support was switched off yesterday.
Pastor Peter Field, who is close to the Sisson family, said yesterday that Josiah was “an incredibly happy-go-lucky, joyful little boy”.
“They [the family] believe in the power of forgiveness and they’re now processing this and they’re moving forward,” he said,
“He’s a great little boy who is going to be missed very much.”
He added that “Christmas is about Jesus Christ being born, coming into the world to bring forgiveness, and they believe in the power of forgiveness, and they are now processing this and moving forward.”
Mourners have gathered at the scene to lay floral tributes to the little boy and friends of the accused were even seen helping to clean up the debris where the accident happened.
Loved ones have also paid tribute on social media. “I remember meeting Josiah when he was about 5, such a happy, friendly, chatty little boy,” wrote one woman on Facebook. “He told me his favourite song was ‘This Little Light Of Mine’.”
“So much love and comfort goes out to his mum, dad, brother and family.
So completely unfair and so tragic. I can’t even begin to comprehend.
I’ll be hugging my own girls a little tighter tonight. “
Witnesses say that the driver of the car screamed in dismay after the accident, telling onlookers he wanted to die as the child lay injured on the ground.
Forensic Crash Unit investigators are expected to re-interview the driver in the next 24 hours.
No charges have yet been laid.
