The summer school holidays started on a tragic note for the family of a little boy and his dog, who were killed in a hit and run incident on Wednesday.
Eleven-year-old Skyler Cleophas and family members were out walking their dogs in Elsies River when a motorist allegedly jumped a red robot and struck them.
Skyler, who was in Grade 4 at Valhalla Park Primary School, and his pit bull Goldie were killed.
The boy had been with his older brother, Egan Booysen, 13, family friend Clive Adams, 24, three other adults and another child on Wednesday night, walking along 35th and Francie van Zyl streets in Elsies River after 8.15pm.
Skyler Cleophas (11) was killed in a hit-and-run in Elsies River. Picture: Jack Lestrade.
Skyler’s sister, Malecia Cleophas, 22, says: “We have a lot of dogs on the property and they were taking the dogs for a walk. I didn’t even realise he took one dog, a pit bull named Goldie, with him.
“He wore spectacles and had ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), he was a very busy child and would keep himself busy with PlayStation or playing with the dogs.
“We told him not to go with because it was so late already.”
She says a few minutes later, Egan came running home crying that Skyler had been hit by a car.
Clive says both he and Egan had screamed at Skyler not to cross the road.
“He was the second one to cross and as he indicated he was going to walk, we screamed at him to wait and not to go,” says a traumatised Clive.
“The next moment we saw this white Chrysler jumping the red robot and as Skyler was near the eiland, the car hit him by the leg.
“He was still breathing for a little bit and then he and the dog, which he had by a leash, died at the scene.”
GRIEVING: Malecia Cleophas. Picture Jack Lestrade
Clive says the driver fled the scene without stopping or slowing down.
Malecia says they want the driver charged with murder: “Skyler knew he had to wait until the lights were red to cross the road, and that is why we cannot understand why this driver would jump a robot and was probably coming at a speed.
“Why did he not stop to help or take Skyler to hospital?”
On Thursday, his mom, Elicia, had the difficult task of identifying Skyler’s body at the mortuary.
“How could he leave my baby lying there in the road? He did not even say sorry,” the hartseer mom of five says.
SCENE: Area where the boy was killed in a hit and run in Elsies River
Police spokesman, Captain FC van Wyk, confirms the incident and says a culpable homicide case was registered for investigation.
He says the registration number of the "sporty type Chrysler" is unknown.
Anyone with info of this incident can call the Elsies River cops on 021 928 1445.