Heartbroken dad’s tribute to ‘my lovely boy’

Shah Zaib Hossain (11) who was killed in a hit-and-run accident outside his local Mosque in Moss Street West, Ashton

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A MERCEDES car involved in a hit-and-run collision that killed an 11-year-old boy in Ashton has been found abandoned in Failsworth.

Police recovered the vehicle three miles from the scene of the accident as Shah Zaib Hossain’s father broke down in tears while paying tribute to the tragic boy.

Shah Zaib died seconds after leaving prayers at his local mosque with his father, Javid Hossain, and uncles. He was crossing a road behind his uncle and in front of his father when he was hit by the car and thrown into the air, landing 20 yards away.

Shaking his head, Mr Hossain said: “He was a lovely, caring boy. Always happy, jolly, just caring, really. Lovely boy. We said our prayers and my son was in front of me, just a few steps away. He’d not even put his foot on the footpath and he was hurled into the air. I knew then he was gone.”

Shah Zaib was rushed to hospital but died a short time later. Three men aged 19, 23 and 27 were arrested afterwards outside the Hamza Mosque in Moss Street West at 4.45pm on Monday.

Shah Zaib had earlier been handing out invitations for his sister’s birthday on Saturday. His mother, Kanwal Hossain, was also at the mosque and went outside to find her stricken son in the road.

Yesterday, well-wishers laid flowers and cards at the scene, the boy’s father breaking down in tears as he viewed the tributes.

Sgt Paul Higgins, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “We are still at an early stage in this investigation and we still need people to come forward if they believe they saw anything. Witness accounts will be vitally important to this case.”

Anyone with information should call police on 0161-856 4741 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555 111.