LAST UPDATE | 21 Sep 2018

TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN paid to an eight-year-old boy who died after he was struck by a car near a petrol station in Co. Derry.

The incident happened at about 8pm last night close to the entrance to a service station on Glenshane Road in the town of Maghera. 

In a statement this evening released through the PSNI, his family said the boy taught them to “embrace autism”. 

“Daniel taught us to step into his world. A world filled with challenges and different perspectives,” they said. 

He taught us to embrace autism and we quickly learned from him that different is not less. 

“We love you. Dan the man – forever in our hearts.” 

Daniel’s father James posted a video on Facebook with the caption “Fly High ‘Dan the man’. Till we meet again”. 

Kilronan School, which Daniel attended, posted a tribute to the eight-year-old on social media. 

“It was with great shock and sadness that we learned last night of the death of one of our pupils, Daniel Bradley, as a result of a road traffic accident,” it said. 

Daniel was a much-loved member of our school community. He was lively, full of run and popular with all who knew him. 

“We extend our deepest sympathy to his parents, sisters, grandparents and wider family circle at this very sad time and we ask that you would keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”

The PSNI is seeking any witnesses to the collision to come forward and has made a particular appeal to anyone who may have dashcam footage of the incident to contact them.