Colin Watson’s family pay tribute to alleged hit and run victim

The devastated family of a father of two allegedly left to die on the side of the road after a shocking hit and run crash have spoken for the first time. FULL TRIBUTE

Proud dad Colin Watson on the day his son Jovii was born. Colin was walking to get milk for coffee when we he was allegedly struck and killed by a black Mercedes-Benz in Kingaroy in the early hours of Tuesday, September 3, being driven by Jade Hugh Cherry.

When Casey Watson found out her former partner had died after an alleged hit and run, she had one thought: “What do I say to my children?’.

Colin Watson died on the side of the road after being hit by an alleged hit and run driver as he walked to the shop for milk in Kingaroy.

The mother to his sons Jovii, 16, and Brax, 12, said she and Colin moved to Kingaroy about 10 years ago from Caboolture.

“He was an amazing dad,” she said on Monday.

“He loved his boys. He also raised four of my older children with me. They were like his own. Everyone loved him. He was willing to help anybody, it didn’t matter what their story was.

“Colin was not an angel. He had a past. But he was always willing to help me with anything, any time.”

Colin Watson (pictured) was walking to get milk for coffee when we he was allegedly struck and killed by a black Mercedes-Benz in Kingaroy in the early hours of Tuesday, September 3.

When Casey found out from a friend what had happened to Colin her first thought was: “My poor boys”.

“It just breaks my heart knowing they have got to grow up without a dad.

“I called the police and they confirmed what had happened. I said ‘what do I say to my children?’

“They said ‘just let them know he was not doing anything wrong’.”

Colin’s youngest son became so distraught at the news of his dad’s death he had a panic attack and the ambulance had to be called to him.

“Brax said to me, ‘Mum, he wasn’t doing anything wrong. Why did they just leave him there?’” Casey said.

Jade Hugh Cherry, 30, has since been arrested and remanded in custody on charges of dangerous driving causing death, failing to remain at the scene and unlicensed driving.

THE VISIT FROM POLICE NOBODY WANTS

Colin Watson: “He taught me to focus on being here for my children.”

Not long after Mr Watson died on the side of the South Burnett road on September 3, the young man he had taken under his wing almost two decades earlier was getting a phone call and a visit from the police.

Scotty Hall is referred to as Colin’s brother, the one who always stuck by him, the one who always checked on him.

But Colin, who was 36 when he died, was more like a father to Scott after he and his younger brother were taken in by the then 18-year-old, 18 years ago.

Scott knew Colin was a rough diamond, and it is clear Scott himself has not had an easy life.

He says Colin had his issues with drugs over the years, but through it all, no matter what demons he might have been fighting, he was an “amazing” father, humble, hard working and generous to a fault.

Colin Watson (pictured) was an “amazing” father, humble, hard working and generous to a fault, Scotty Hall says.

“Colin was 18 when he took me and my little brother in as our ‘foster’ dad,” Scott said through his tears of grief on Monday.

“Throughout the years since, he has been a father to me.

“He taught me to focus on being here for my children.

“He was harmless. Even on his darkest days he would give anyone the shirt off his own back.

“I have not stopped crying for the past five days.

“Now I have got to be Colin’s little superman and get him justice.”

A gofundme has been set up by Tenika Steele, and says Colin longed for a life with his sons, and was was a doting father, “raising not only his own sons and four gorgeous step children but his brothers, when he was only a child himself”.

“He was everyone’s big brother, the goofy uncle, son, grandson, nephew, cousin, husband, everyone’s friend and protector.

“I am praying that coming together to support financial costs associated with this tragedy, will make a difference in helping us honor Colin’s memory and provide assistance to his loved ones.”

As of Monday it had raised $680 of a $10,000 target.

Originally published as Colin Watson’s family pay tribute to alleged hit and run victim