Toddler dies and mother critical after Coventry crash

A two-year-old boy has died and his mother is critically ill after they were hit by a car.

Umar Akhalwaya and his mother were visiting family when they were struck in Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry, at about 21:00 BST on Sunday, police said.

He was taken to hospital with severe injuries and died later.

His mother, 32, suffered multiple fractures and remains in a critical condition. Three other siblings were unhurt.

Police said the driver of the Volkswagen Bora involved, a 39-year-old man, stopped at the scene and was assisting officers with their inquiries.

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A friend of the family, Daljit Bhogal, said the family was "devastated and in shock".

Mr Bhogal described how witnesses went to help and had to lift a car to get the trapped boy out from underneath it.

"They are just a proper, normal family that has just been devastated. My heart just goes out to them," he said.

An eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said she heard "a big bang" and "a lady screaming".

"A lot of people had come out... we were all in shock," she said.

'Understandably distraught'

"I was praying, hoping he [the boy] was ok. I'm in shock, it was really horrible."

Det Sgt Paul Hughes said: "There was a large number of people at the scene and if anyone witnessed the collision and hasn't yet spoken to us I would urge them to make contact," he said.

"I would ask people at this stage not to speculate on what happened and to consider the further distress this may cause the family.

"They need our combined support to help them through this dreadful time."