Boy killed in lorry horror in Small Heath
A FOUR-year-old boy has died and another is in hospital following a collision with a lorry in Birmingham.
Paramedics rushed the two youngsters to Heartlands Hospital after the horrific accident in Coventry Road, Small Heath, yesterday afternoon.
Despite a prolonged attempt to save the boy, he was later confirmed dead at the hospital.
The second boy, who is six years old, was left with leg and pelvic injuries.
One eye-witness said he heard the lorry slam on its brakes. He said he saw one of the boys with his face cut and lying at the side of the road. He said the second boy was lying still, underneath the truck.
The man, who did not want to be named, said: “He wasn’t moving at all. The traffic stopped and everyone was running toward the truck.
“People blocked the traffic and diverted the cars before the police came. The ambulance took the little one, at the side of the road, straight away. But it was another half hour or 40 minutes after the incident before they attempted to move the other boy.”
The two boys are thought to be cousins, living at separate addresses in nearby Tennyson Road.
At the time of the accident, police believe they were attempting to cross the road, on their way back from nursery and or school.
Police said the children were accompanied by the mother of one. They said they are yet to speak to her about what happened because she is still “too traumatised”.
Insp Ainsley Cobbett, of Stechford Police, said: “There are a number of outstanding inquiries we need to do before we can determine how it happened.
“The driver was there when officers arrived and co-operated with us.”
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Two boys, both pedestrians, had been in collision with a lorry.
“One of the boys, a six-year-old, had leg and pelvic injuries. He was taken to Heartlands Hospital for further assessment and treatment.
“The second boy, a four-year-old, had suffered numerous injuries. He was also taken to Heartlands Hospital by land ambulance, accompanied by the BASICS doctor from the Air Ambulance.
“Despite prolonged attempts to resuscitate the boy, he was confirmed dead at hospital.”
Two ambulance crews, an incident support officer and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance attended the scene, along the A45 Coventry Road at its junction with St Benedicts Road.
Insp Cobbett appealed for anyone with information to contact the duty inspector at Stechford police station on 0845 113 5000.
