A fitness enthusiast, who was killed in a hit-and-run which involved a car stolen in Rainford, has been named by the police as David Francis.
The 63-year-old died after being mowed down by an Audi which ploughed into a house on Thursday night. Francis was from Litherland, Merseyside, and was a locally popular running enthusiast, sometimes seen jogging only wearing shorts, no matter how cold the weather.
Francis was labelled the “Litherland Running Man”, as a part of the tribute, as detectives continue to hunt the driver of the stolen Audi S8 involved in the fatal car crash in Netherton. Officers have appealed directly to the driver to “do the right thing” and hand themselves in.
The Emergency services rushed to Netherton, Merseyside at 9.05 pm on Thursday after reports a dark-coloured car had crashed into a house, reported The Sun. Police, ambulance and fire crews arrived at the scene on Morgan Mews; they discovered Mr Francis had also been hit by the car.
The fitness enthusiast was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
The man who was driving the car took off from the scene on foot and officers suspect that the car was stolen in a burglary. Shortly after the news went viral, tributes have been flooding in flowing for David online, while a GoFundMe has been set up to raise money for his funeral.
He was known locally as a popular running enthusiast who was sometimes seen jogging only wearing shorts, no matter how cold the weather.
Reacting to the heartbreaking news, one user called Francis Forrest Gump and wrote, "Whenever we’d be out in the car I’d always be looking out for him saying 'there he is kids - The Litherland Running Man'. The kids knew him as LRM too. He was a machine, he ran effortlessly, he just ran for the love of running. He was our very own modern-day Forrest Gump. I don’t think he actually knew how locally famous he was. He was a legend and he was our legend."
Another wrote: "Hurts my heart this and I never knew him. When something so tragic happens so close to home. It hits hard...My thoughts go out to his family and friends. Litherland Running Man R.I.P (Dave Francis)."
Detective Inspector Colin Rennison previously said: "We are in the very early stages of establishing the circumstances of this incident. Officers are currently at the scene and house-to-house enquiries are being carried out. We will also be checking CCTV and smart doorbell footage from the area in a bid to identify the male who was driving the vehicle. We are interested in hearing from anyone who may have seen a dark-coloured Audi S8 being driven in the area before the collision occurred,” reported The Sun.
The detective further added, "Any information you have, however small you may think it is, could prove to be vital to our enquiries. If you witnessed this incident or have any information please contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ with reference 1042 of April 13.
Detective Inspector Colin Rennison concluded, "You can also call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."