A CORONER’S inquest heard how a three-year-old boy from Carmarthenshire died after he fell from his father’s Land Rover in October last year.
The inquest, held at Milford Haven Town Hall on Friday (Apr 5), heard the fatality happened on Sunday, October 21, 2018, when Evan Williams opened the rear of the Land Rover and fell to the ground.
Evan suffered ‘catastrophic’ head injuries when he was struck by the reversing vehicle.
Evan’s father, Dewi Williams, had been reversing around a bend on a steep hill at Ceunant Farm in Llanybydder, with Evan and his sister in the vehicle. Neither child was strapped into the Land Rover.
Sian Elin Williams, Evan’s mother, was standing to the left of the Land Rover, which the inquest heard was the correct way to assist someone whilst they are in the process of completing a difficult manoeuvre.
The Land Rover was towing a three and a half tonne trailer carrying around 40 sheep at the time of the incident.
Police Sergeant Shane Davies of Dyfed-Powys Police described what he encountered when he arrived at the scene: “It was obvious to me that the incident involved only one vehicle – a Land Rover Defender, towing a trailer.
“It had been reversing backwards down a slope and there were obstructions on both sides.
“Due to the nature of the manoeuvre, the driver’s view would have been restricted.
“During this manoeuvre, Evan was crushed underneath the offside rear which resulted in catastrophic injuries to his head and skull.”
Sergeant Davies added that the vehicle had been forensically examined since the and there were no faults which could have contributed to the accident.
Confirming that the door would have to have been opened from the inside, Sergeant Davies added: “I don’t believe the door was faulty.
“In my opinion, it had been securely fastened. For some unknown reason, the door of the Land Rover had opened and the child fell from it or otherwise left the vehicle.
“At which time the vehicle has continued to reverse backwards and over [Evan’s] skull.”
Addressing the grief-stricken family, who were crying during the hearing, the Coroner for Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, Mark Layton said: “Thank you to Evan’s parents for attending this inquest today.
“This was a terrible tragedy and Evan’s family have my heartfelt sympathy.”
Mr Layton recorded a verdict of accidental death.
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