A 9-year-old boy lost his life in a hit-and-run case as a speeding car left him to die on the road. According to reports by WSB-TV, the child—identified as Jamal Dean—succumbed to injuries caused by a road accident near his recreation center. The grieving father of the deceased boy shared that Jamal died in his mother's arms.
The incident took place on Tuesday, January 3, when Jamal was outside the recreation center on Cleveland Avenue in southeast Atlanta. In a statement to Channel 2′s Tom Jones at the Rosel Fann rec center the father, Christopher Dean, shared his deep sorrow over the unbelievable loss of his child.
Dean revealed that Jamal, accompanied by his mother, had come to the recreation center to sign up for basketball. In his excitement, the kid jumped out of the car without letting the accompanying parent know and was trying to cross the street alone when the speeding car hit him.
Witnesses revealed that it was a Ford truck that hit him. The vehicle allegedly didn't slow down after the impact and sped down the street without caring about the boy. "He was getting ready to play in a basketball tournament this weekend," the father told the news outlet about the little boy who is no more. "That's why he was at that rec center."
"He was getting ready to play in a basketball tournament this weekend," Dean said. "That's why he was at that rec center."
"His mom said he jumped out the car, and she was like, 'Hold on son,'" the distraught father continued. "But as soon as he stepped out, a car came out, swerved, and hit him. My son. He was such a happy, happy child."
A GoFundMe campaign set up to cover the funeral cost for the boy reads: "It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have to tell the story of the lost a beautiful 9-year-old boy. Jamal my son was amazing, anyone who knew him could attest to his innocence. He was always happy, smiling and dancing, and how he loved basketball,” writes the father, “Jamal was taken from me on January 3, 2023, by a careless individual. I appreciate the support and outpour from the community. Those who would like to donate to funeral costs can do so below."
The car driver is absconding as they fled the scene, and are untraceable. Talking about it the grieving father said: "If my son would have survived, he would have forgiven him. He didn't have an evil thought in his soul. How could you leave? Just leave a kid like that on the street?"
Jamal's mother reportedly said in a statement: "My children are my whole world. So as I type this message I am broken. How am I supposed to live without him, Jamal my best friend, my love, my baby. I've received an overwhelming amount of support from the community asking how can they help. For that reason, I created this go fund me page. My family and I are devastated, never have I felt so much pain. Jamal, baby how am I supposed to live without you. You gave me purpose, you needed me and I still need you. Never could I imagine you'd be taken from me, from the world."
Reference:
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/9-year-old-hit-by-car-was-way-sign-up-basketball-game-died-mothers-arms-dad-says/JWXGJBLI55ALFKDETVSI7Z6R3I/
https://www.gofundme.com/f/jamal-dean?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_content=undefined&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer&utm_term=undefined
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