My mother heard her son’s screams on the phone after answering a stranger’s call

Marley Ollerhead’s mother has called on a man who saw what happened to come forward and help

A terrified mother has recalled hearing her son’s agonized screams when a stranger called after a van “ran a red light” and hit him. Marley Ollerhead, 11, had gone to McDonald’s with friends when he was hit by a van as he cycled across the crosswalk at the intersection of Claughton Road and Exmouth Street in Birkenhead.

The youngster suffered a broken wrist and a hairline fracture to his elbow in the shocking incident that took place at around 7.45pm on November 20. Merseyside Police confirmed that the van, described as silver or gray in color, failed to stop after hitting Marley and has yet to be identified. Police confirmed that CCTV searches of the area are underway to identify the vehicle.

Marley’s mother Louise, 43, said the ECHO: “He was crossing at an intersection and had been waiting for the green man. When the green man arrived he wanted to cross the road but a van went through and hit his back wheel. He said he flew in the air and when he landed he looked up and saw a gray van driving away.”

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Mrs Ollerhead, van Birkenheadsaid a male pedestrian stopped and waited with her son but had to leave quickly. She added that she received a call from a woman who did not see the incident but heard “the bang” when the van hit Marley’s bicycle. Mrs Ollerhead said: “My mother is in hospital and I had just got home when I got the call.

“I heard Marley screaming in the back of the conversation. I asked what happened and the lady said he had been run over, but it seemed okay. I jumped in the car with my daughter and we were there in four minutes. I was so scared .”

Mrs Ollerhead said when she arrived at the scene of the incident she was initially angry because she thought her son had run a red light. But after speaking to the woman at the scene, she claims she was told the van ran a red light before leaving the area.

She told me the ECHO: “Jumping through a red light is one thing, but hitting a child and not stopping is disgusting. Wrong or no wrong, the driver should have stopped.” Instead of waiting for an ambulance, she said: The police accompanied Marley to the hospital, where it turned out that he had suffered serious injuries to his arm.

Marley, who has two brothers and two sisters, is now in a plaster cast and will remain in place until January. Ms Ollerhead said it had not yet been confirmed how much damage the incident would have on her son, a passionate Thai boxer who trains several days a week. She said she plans to take her son to Thailand for his birthday next year and fears the impact the “nasty fracture” to his dominant left wrist will have.

Mrs Ollerhead told the ECHO: “I’m glad he’s doing well because it could have been a lot worse. He has had his first day of school, but cannot go on a bike ride with his friends. Right now I’m not doing that.” I don’t even want him to go out because I’m a little scared.”

The mother said investigating police officers told her they are collecting CCTV footage from local shops in the area to help identify the van. She also publicly appealed to the man who witnessed the incident and helped her son before he left the scene to come forward to assist in the investigation.

Officer Jennifer Wise, of Merseyside Police Road Policing Unit Matrixtold the ECHO: “The boy suffered serious injuries that could easily have been worse. It’s incredible to leave the scene of a collision with a child, and we really want to identify the driver as quickly as possible.

“If you were passing along Claughton Road at the time and saw or captured anything, please let us know. If you live in the area, please check CCTV, dashcam and doorbell footage for any silver or gray vans passing by so we can van and identify the perpetrator.”You can contact @MerPolCC on