Police Tracking Two Male Suspects After Hit And Run Kills 4-Year-Old Girl

A little girl died in her mother's arms following a hit-and-run on Friday. Her organs were donated, and as a result she has saved the lives of two people.

Violet-Grace Youens suffered catastrophic injuries after a car (believed to have been travelling at up to 80mph) ploughed into her and her grandmother, Angela French, in St Helens.

Now, detectives from Merseyside Police have released the following images as they are hoping to trace the two males featured in relation to the incident.

The first man is described as white, aged 15-20, around 5ft 10 inches with a slim build and brown hair.

He was wearing a royal blue t-shirt and royal blue shorts.

The second man is described as white, aged 15-20, with brown medium length hair. He was wearing a black t-shirt, black shorts and dark trainers.

Anyone with information on either the incident or the two males in the photos are asked to contact MSOC Roads Policing on 0151 777 5747 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Violet-Grace's mother, Rebecca, took to Facebook to share the tragic news early this morning.

She wrote: "My beautiful baby girl passed away in my arms on 25/03/2017 at 23:38.

"Thank you for all your well wishes. She was just too poorly. However, my brave baby girl saved two lives by donating her kidneys and pancreas.

"I am truly heartbroken but proud of my little fighter! Violet-Grace Susan Youens 02/10/2012 - 25/03/2017. RIP baby girl."

Her grandmother, Angela, is still in hospital. Merseyside Police confirmed Violet-Grace's death in a statement, adding that Angela is "serious but stable".

They said: "Violet Grace Youens, who is from the St Helens area, passed away in hospital late last night, Saturday 25th March, following the collision.

"She leaves a 21 month-old brother Oliver."

Eyewitness Chris Lang saw the suspected stolen Fiesta crash into Angela and Violet-Grace.

He said: "The car came through the lights - it must have been going 70 to 80mph and hit the woman and child, who were crossing the road.

"They have then smashed the car into bollards and ran off down Lincoln Road.

"It was an awful scene and distressing as you can imagine."

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the family.

Mel Ramsay

Mel Ramsay has been a Senior Journalist for Tyla and LADbible since 2015. She started her career writing obituaries and funeral guides online. Since then, her work has been published in a wide variety of national and local news sites. She is part of the BBC's Generation project and has spoken about young people, politics and mental health on television, radio and online. Contact her - [email protected]

@melramsay_