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Why was FJ on the road? Will anyone be charged in his hit-and-run death?

Fred Lamont Woodard Jr., 6, was found along Benson Road at JR Driveon Tuesday night, just a short walk from his home.

Posted Updated

By
Joe Fisher
and
Brett Knese, WRAL reporters
GARNER, N.C. — Fred Lamont Woodard Jr., 6, was found along Benson Road at JR Drive on Tuesday night, just a short walk from his home. It's a two-lane road with no sidewalk.

It isn't clear when or how the child left his home or what he was doing on the road.

He was found around 11 p.m., badly injured. Fred, known to family as "FJ," died at a local hospital.

Both directions of N.C. Highway 50 were closed overnight in southern Wake County after a child was found in the roadway.

According to family, Fred had autism and did not speak much. He was a student at Wakelon Elementary School in Zebulon.

An uncle, George O'Neal, said FJ enjoyed playing cards, had a lot of energy and was always running around the area.

“He was full of life," O’Neal said. "He was truly a genuine little guy. He was always running around and he was very free-spirited.”

“I think it’s tragic. It’s heartbreaking. I can’t imagine how the family feels," said neighbor Elizabeth Cain.

A small memorial marks the spot where a child was found along a road near Garner. The child later died at a local hospital.

While his family gathered near where he was found, starting a small memorial of balloons, candles and playing cards, investigators determined Fred was the victim of a hit and run.

They questioned the driver of a white F-150 truck found with front-end damage, Paul Wayne Wall, 73, of Raleigh, but had not decided to file any charges against him.

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