The hero who died saving children's lives when a woman drove onto a baseball field in the middle of a little league game in Maine, had himself killed a four-year-old girl in a hit-and-run in 1968.

Douglas Parkhurst, 68, a Vietnam war veteran, had been near a group of children when the car entered the field, and pushed them out of harm's way while trying to get the car to stop.

The car, driven by Carol Sharrow, 51, hit Parkhurst and police say she sped away from the scene. He died on his way to hospital.

In 1968, Parkhurst hit and killed four-year-old Carolee Ashby with his car. He confessed to the crime in 2013, and admitted he had been drinking that night.

He wasn't charged because the statue of limitations had already passed. Police have said there is no connection between the two incidents.

Douglas Parkhurst, 68, (pictured left) a Vietnam war veteran, saved children's lives when a woman drove onto a baseball field in the middle of a little league game. In 1968, he killed four-year-old Carolee Ashby (right) in a hit-and-run

In a four-page signed confession obtained by Syracuse.com, Parkhurst wrote he was responsible and was deeply sorry.

'I know in my heart and I am 99.9 per cent sure I hit that little girl with my 1962 tan Buick Special,' he wrote. 'I am oh so sorry. I can't change anything but I hope this apology will be accepted and I beg for forgiveness.

'That was my car and it was the car that hit the little Ashby girl.

Parkhurst's niece Stacy Borrow said her family was always very close, and her uncle had always had a 'huge heart'.

When asked by DailyMail.com about the 1968 hit-and-run, she said she didn't know about it until he confessed in 2013, but said it did not affect their relationship and she never really knew the full story.

'I was a little girl and I had no knowledge of it until it came to the surface a short time ago,' she said. '[There were] so many different stories about it.'

Shocking video taken at the scene shows people running off the field after a car drove erratically across a little league baseball field, as people are heard screaming in the stands

Parkhurst had been trying to close the steel gates to stop the driver, but she slammed into them - sending the veteran flying, and drove away

'I said to someone today, "that's between him and God". He loved me and protected me. It didn't affect my relationship with him [and] had nothing to do with me.

'We all have sin and God will be our judge.'

Explaining her relationship with Parkhurst, from West Newfield, she said: 'Growing up we were all very close.

'My cousins were more like brothers to my sister and I. His wife was my mom's only sister.'

She said Parkhurst never quite recovered from the death of his wife, but had a good support network in his family.

'He's come to visit a lot over the years. And I've been to Maine to be with him for vacations in the meanwhile,' she said.

'Last year we had an amazing time up there with him. We made a lot of memories.

'He loved his family a lot, but nothing compared to his love for his grandchildren and my girls.

'My uncle literally gave his life to save other children. It doesn't get more selfless than that.'

Douglas Parkhurst (pictured) was killed on Friday night after a woman drove her car through a baseball field

Parkhurst's niece Stacy Borrow (pictured together) said her family was always very close, and her uncle had always had a 'huge heart'

Parkhurst confessed to killing Carolee Ashby, pictured with her mother, with his car in 2013

Justin Clifton, who had been playing basketball nearby when the woman drove onto the baseball field, told News Center Maine Parkhurst had given his life for the children - some who were as young as eight.

'After the car got off the field, [the driver] came to the gate and the older guy pushed the kids right out of the way. He took the hit for the kids,' he said.

Diana Bittner shared an account of the horrific end to Friday night's game to Facebook.

'I stood there in horror as this crazy woman, tires smoking, raced up and down the road then drove right onto the ball field,' she wrote.

'Kids screaming and running for their lives. They tried to close the huge metal gate to prevent her from leaving and she smashed right through it.

'That poor man was trying to help close the gate and went flying onto the street. It was a scene I will never forget.

'I'm so grateful she didn't hurt anyone else, but everyone there I'm sure were all as traumatized as I was.

'Just horrible and so sad for this man and his family.'

Sharrow has a mental illness, her best friend said on Facebook, and was not in control when she drove through the field where children as young as eight were playing

The car was being driven by Carol Sharrow (pictured) who is charged with manslaughter

Sharrow, 51, has been charged with manslaughter.

Police say at the time her car entered the field, between 200 and 300 people were in the stands and there were children on the field, who scattered to avoid the vehicle.

Video of the horrific moment shows people screaming and running across the field as Sharrow speeds in and spins her maroon sedan around the bases.

After Sharrow hit Parkhurst, police say she sped away from the scene, and

Sharrow was arrested and has been booked into York County Jail, while police continue to investigate.

The 51-year-old's best friend took to Facebook in her defense, telling followers Sharrow is mentally ill, and how shocked she was to hear it was her friend behind the wheel.

Denise Bass said Sharrow's actions were 'out of her control' and the woman 'wouldn't hurt a fly'.

'When she wakes up from this evilness that controlled her she will not be able to live with what she did,' she said.

'Mental illness can control you. I loved this person and I pray she gets the help to be able to survive what she did.

'I also want to pray for Douglas and his family for their loss. I do not condone what my friend did. Please know it was not her, it was her illness.

'On a last note, do not judge someone you don't know, she never used drugs, hardly drank, she's had a rough past but always was a strong woman and got through it.

Sharrow's best friend Denise posted a lengthy defense of her friend's actions (pictured), saying the 51-year-old was mentally ill and 'snapped'

'Something obviously snapped and I'm sorry for her it did and I'm especially sorry for all the people who witnessed her at her rock bottom. I am very upset that this has happened to my friend and to the family she has affected.'

Parkhurst's family are devastated at their loss - but niece Michelle says the man has always been a hero.

'He was a great man,' she told DailyMail.com

'He saved my life 33 years ago - I'd cut my foot open while I was swimming, and he ripped his shirt off and wrapped my foot until we got to the hospital.

'He is going to be missed really badly. He was my favorite uncle.'