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Teenager arrested after ‘Litherland Running Man’ David Francis, 63, mown down and killed by Audi that smashed into house

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A TEENAGER has been arrested after the “Litherland Running Man” was killed by an Audi which smashed into a house.

David Francis, 63, died after being mown down by a black Audi S8 in a hit-and-run collision in Netherton, Merseyside at around 9.05pm on April 13.

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David Francis was mown down and killed in a hit-and-run collisionCredit: GoFundMe

The driver of the car, which is suspected to have been stolen during a burglary, fled on foot after the crash.

Cops had appealed directly to the driver to “do the right thing” and hand themselves in.

Merseyside Police have now said a 17-year-old male had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Mr Francis was dubbed the “Litherland Running Man” in tributes as he regularly seen jogging, sometimes only wearing short, no matter how cold it was.

He was tragically pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Tributes have been flooding in for David online, while a GoFundMe has been set up to raise money for his funeral.

One wrote:  “Hurts my heart this and I never knew him.

“When something so tragic happens so close to home. It hits hard… My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

“Litherland Running Man R.I.P (Dave Francis).”

Another said: “Whenever we’d be out in the car I’d always be looking out for him saying ‘there he is kids – The Litherland Running Man’.

“The kids knew him as LRM too. He was a machine, he ran effortlessly, he just ran for the love of running.

“He was our very own modern-day Forrest Gump.

“I don’t think he actually knew how locally famous he was.

“He was a legend and he was our legend.”

Detective Inspector Colin Rennison previously said: “We are in the very early stages of establishing the circumstances of this incident.

“Officers are currently at the scene and house-to-house enquiries are being carried out.

“We will also be checking CCTV and smart doorbell footage from the area in a bid to identify the male who was driving the vehicle.

“We are interested in hearing from anyone who may have seen a dark-coloured Audi S8 being driven in the area before the collision occurred.

“Any information you have, however small you may think it is, could prove to be vital to our enquiries.

“If you witnessed this incident or have any information please contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ with reference 1042 of April 13.

“You can also call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

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