Hi °C | Lo °C 
A community is in shock following the death of a 14-year-old schoolboy who was struck by a car earlier this week.
Tributes have poured in for Clarence Campbell as news of his death broke.
It is understood the Belfast High pupil was crossing the Larne Road in Carrickfergus shortly before 8am on Monday morning when the collision occurred.
Sheila Haggan, a friend of the Campbell family who lives a few doors away from them on Coronation Road, said the young athlete had had bright prospects.
She told the Belfast Telegraph: “His parents are broken-hearted.
“They really are devastated — words cannot say how they are.
“I was speaking to his mother, Kayoka, on Monday. She said the next 24 to 48 hours were crucial.
“But it was the machine keeping him alive.
“His father, Peter, came over today and said, ‘He’s gone Sheila. He was pronounced dead a while ago’.”
The schoolboy is survived by his father Peter, his mother Kayoka — who is from Japan — and his younger sister, Claire, who is in her last year at Victoria Primary School.
Claire was on the first day of a school trip to Scotland when news came through of the collision.
It is understood that the late boy’s paternal uncle lost his life in a road traffic accident in Carrickfergus some years ago.
Sheila described Clarence as “a smart wee boy”.
“He had a good future in front of him. All the young kids on the street looked up to him,” she said.
“Everybody here is just numb.
“All week we have been praying and nobody can believe it. He was only 14.”
One tribute posted on the late schoolboy’s Facebook page last night said: “God only takes the best. You'll be so missed Clarence.”
