‘David was a wonderful boy’ -tragic teen’s dad

Fifteen-year-old David Preece was just 100 yards from home when he was knocked down by a car on the Donaghcloney Road at 11pm on Friday night.

David had been walking back from the shop with a friend when the accident happened.

His father Michael rushed to the scene after receiving a frantic phonecall from David’s friend.

“He was hysterical,” said Michael. “They had been walking back from the shop to our house when he got hit from behind.

“I jumped in the car and went down the road. I could see his body lying along the side of the road, just about 100 yards from our house.

“He was half on the road and half on the ditch. I knew straight away that it was bad. I could see he had a serious head injury.

“He wasn’t conscious. Another motorist had stopped and was doing CPR on him and I was making sure his airwaves were clear.

“He never responded at all but we kept trying. We just kept trying to bring him back.

“The ambulance rushed him to the hospital but he never regained consciousness and they had to take the decision that nothing more could be done.

“They did everything they possibly could, but he was gone.”

Michael described his son as wonderful boy.

“He was great – a wonderful boy, full of life, fun and energy,” he said.

Funeral details are still to be released.

Police have appealed for anyone with information on the accident or who witnessed the collision to contact detectives in Lurgan on 0845 600 8000.