A TWO-YEAR-OLD boy was tragically killed when he rode his toy bike under a passing lorry, an inquest heard.

Issac Brocklehurst had been riding up and down on the plastic bike on paths and grass behind his grandmother Anita Brocklehurst's flat in Valley Road, Shipley, while she accompanied him.

The hearing in Bradford was told today there was a gap in a low wall next to the pavement which led to the front of the flats and the main road.

In a statement read to the inquest, Mrs Brocklehurst, who has since died, said Issac knew he had to stop when he got to the gap in the wall.

She said he was playing on the bike for five to ten minutes. She looked away for a moment to pick something up and put it in a bin. When she looked back he had ridden to the gap in the wall.

Mrs Brocklehurst shouted “no,” but he rode through the gap. She ran after him shouting for him to come back.

She said: “He stopped and looked at me. I thought he’d come back. Instead, he turned and went straight out on to the road.”   

Issac rode between two parked cars in a lay by and into the road. 

The boy and his toy bike went into the path of a tipper lorry and he was killed instantly.

Issac’s mother, Gemma Brocklehurst, of Thursby Street, Barkerend, had left him with her mother while she attended a doctor’s appointment.

In a statement she said: “My mum blamed herself for what happened. I told her not to.” She also said she did not blame the lorry driver. 

The inquest heard yesterday that the lorry driver, Anthony Ward, could not have seen Issac, or done anything to avoid the tragedy, which happened at lunchtime on February 23 this year, as he was on the way to make a delivery of asphalt. 

Mr Ward told the inquest he heard a small thud but could not see anything in his mirrors and was not aware his vehicle had struck Issac until he was flagged down and told.

He said: “I never saw that child. I didn’t know I was involved in an accident.”
The court heard that Mr Ward had looked at a text message on his phone while he was stationary at traffic lights earlier in the journey, but was not distracted at the time of the accident and was travelling well below the speed limit.

Detective Constable Kerry Gibson, of West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team, said Mr Ward, an experienced lorry driver, had been frank with police and was shocked and upset.

He had no chance of taking evasive action. After examining the evidence it was decided there should be no action taken against him.

The inquest heard the Scania lorry had no defects.

Senior West Yorkshire coroner, Martin Fleming, concluding that Issac died accidentally, said it was a tragic and heartbreaking case. 

Mr Fleming said Issac was a much-loved little boy who was described as very bubbly and full of life and “clearly gave so much joy to all those who loved him”.

He said they were devastated by his loss and their lives would never be the same.

Mr Fleming said Issac had suddenly and unexpectedly ridden his trike through the gap in the wall, “to the unimaginable distress of his loving and caring grandmother,” and despite her attempts to stop him.

He said the accident was something no grandmother should ever have to witness. 

Mr Fleming said the circumstances had prevented Issac’s grandmother, who has since died, and the driver from taking any evasive action. 

He added: “It is very difficult to think of circumstances more tragic than this.” 

Mr Fleming told Mr Ward: “It is clear that you are very much struggling to come to terms with this tragedy - but leave here with the understanding that it occurred in circumstances beyond your control. It could not have been in your power to have made any difference to this tragedy.”

After the hearing, Mr Ward was hugged by members of Issac’s family.

MORE TOP STORIES