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Amazing boy, 4, died after being knocked off bike in van’s blindspot

Posted on - 17th January, 2025 - 3:05pm | Author - | Posted in - Ingol, Preston News
Tributes left to Jayden at the scene in New Rough Hey, Ingol Pic: Leah Smith/Blog Preston
Tributes left to Jayden at the scene in New Rough Hey, Ingol Pic: Leah Smith/Blog Preston

A minibus which hit a four-year-old boy in a fatal crash had blindspots of up to two metres, an inquest has heard. 

Jayden Kearns tragically died when he was knocked off his Spiderman bike while riding outside his home on New Rough Hey in Ingol in March 2024. An inquest at Preston Coroners’ Court today heard Jayden was in one of the blindspots on Chris Cleaver’s Citroen Relay when he was knocked down.

Opening the hearing, area coroner Kate Bisset asked Jayden’s family members to describe what kind of a person he was and received answers which described him as an “amazing” and “lovely” boy who loved Paw Patrol and Spiderman. They explained that “our whole world’s just been ripped apart” by his death.

Read more: People urged to line streets of Ribchester in memory of football club legend Peter Hargreaves

A statement from Jayden’s grandmother Kathleen Yates explained she had brought him back to his parents’ home and as they pulled up the child spotted a friend and asked to go play with him on the grass area within the estate.

This was entirely normal, Kathleen explained, with other children also outside playing by the very quiet road, which generally had little traffic passing and only at low speeds. 

She left the front door open so she could keep an eye on him, with Jayden at one point returning for a snack. He also came back to get his bike and was enjoying cycling around the estate.

His father Airan later returned home and was greeted with a hug by Jayden and went to have a bath while Kathleen watched over him through the window.

In her statement, she said she heard a screeching sound involving a minibus being driven by Mr Cleaver who also lived on the estate. This was the incident in which Jayden was dragged under the minibus.

At this point, she and neighbours ran outside to help Jayden who was bleeding heavily. He was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital but treatment was stopped and he was pronounced dead shortly before 6pm. A medical cause of death was given as chest trauma.

At the scene, Mr Cleaver was asked to complete eyesight, drink and drugs tests, all of which were passed without problem. In a statement given when he attended a voluntary police interview, he said he worked as a driver taking ‘children with special needs’ to and from school.

The dad-of-five had returned home after completing the pick up and pulled up to speak to his son and daughter who were playing outside. After speaking with them, he planned to go park in a small park near to his home further into the estate and set off from the kerb slowly after completing checks of his mirrors and over his shoulders.

Soon after setting off, he heard a “crunch” noise and initially checked the dashboard assuming it was a mechanical issue. He said he had seen Jayden cycling when he first entered the estate but at no point again until after the collision.

He denied feeling any bump when the crash happened, though this was disputed by forensic collision investigator PC Rachel Carbery who said he likely would have done.

The officer explained checks were carried out which found no mechanical issues with the car but did highlight issues with blind spots. By recreating the incident using Jayden’s bike and a dummy, police found areas around the car where he could not have been seen. These ranged in area from 1.5-2m in distance and CCTV footage showed Jayden was in one of these spots as Mr Cleaver set off.

When questioned by Jayden’s family, she said the investigation found no concerns relating to his speed or reaction time.

Concluding the inquest, Ms Bisset described it as a “horrendous tragedy for everyone involved”. 

Recording a conclusion of road traffic collision, she said: “Jayden was riding his bicycle on the road when came into collision with a minivan and fell beneath the wheels.”

In her statement, Kathleen said: “The whole thing seems like a hurricane has passed through our lives and turned them upside down.”

She described him as the “apple in my eye” and a lovely boy who loved his mum more than anyone. She added: “I would do anything for him. He had me wrapped around his finger and he knew it.”

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