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Young Boy Dies From Injuries After Being Hit By Car At Christmas Parade

Young Boy Dies From Injuries After Being Hit By Car At Christmas Parade

Jackson Sparks, 8, has become the sixth person to die from the Waukesha tragedy.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

A young boy has died from his injuries after he was one of dozens of people hit by an SUV that slammed into a Christmas parade in America.

Jackson Sparks and his older brother were two of many hit by the vehicle when it drove at speed through the parade route in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Officials from the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin have released a statement confirming the eight-year-old's death.

Twitter

"With deepest sympathy and sorrow, Children's Wisconsin shares that earlier Tuesday, a child being cared for at Children's Wisconsin passed away from injuries sustained at the Waukesha parade," the statement said.

"As family and friends learn of this loss and the name of the child is likely to become public, the child's parents have asked that their privacy be respected. They do not wish to be contacted by media at this time."

Jackson's death brings the tragedy in Waukesha, Wisconsin to six.

A GoFundMe has been set up in the wake of his death and his devastated parents are asking for privacy during this heartbreaking time.

Thirteen children remain in hospital, with six of them listed as being in critical conditions.

Police have since charged Darrell Brooks after he was taken into custody shortly after the incident happened earlier this week.

The 39-year-old has been charged with five counts of intentional homicide, CBS reports. That will likely be updated now that Jackson has died in hospital.

Waukesha Police

Intentional homicide is legally the same as first-degree murder and carries a life sentence, if found guilty.

Police Chief Dan Thompson identified the other victims who have died as women aged 79, 71, 52 and 52, and an 81-year-old man.

Speaking shortly after the tragedy, Thompson said there was 'no evidence this is a terrorist incident' and they're 'confident he acted alone'.

Angela O'Boyle witnessed the tragedy unfold from her balcony and told CNN it was terrifying to hear everyone screaming.

"The next thing I heard were screams and turned my head and saw the car come and plow into the band that was just pass my balcony at that point," she said.

"It hit at least two people right away and rolled over them. And then continued down the road to People's Park, which is at the end of the block - and then kept going, it didn't stop."

Brooks appeared in court for the first time since being charged and the judge set his bail at $5 million.

Featured Image Credit: GoFundMe/City of Waukesha

Topics: News