Father was driving steam engine that killed boy, 7, at Beamish Museum

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jul/23/father-driving-steam-engine-that-killed-boy

Version 0 of 1.

A steam traction engine involved in the death of a seven-year-old boy at an open-air museum on Sunday was being driven by his father, it was revealed on Monday.

Karl Doran, from Darlington, died in a what police are calling a "tragic incident" at Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham. Philip Doran, his father, was taken to hospital in shock afterwards.

Karl suffered head injuries after he was hit by the steam traction engine and trailer, which was being driven along a road adjacent to the railway line in the museum.

Durham police said a postmortem examination showed that death was due to a head injury.

A spokesman said: "We can also confirm today that the steam traction engine was being driven by Karl's father … Mr Doran was taken to hospital suffering from shock immediately after the incident but has since been able to speak to police."

DCI Victoria Fuller, who is leading the joint investigation, said: "We are treating this as a tragic incident and are working with our colleagues in the Health and Safety Executive to establish the exact circumstances.

"We have already spoken to a number of witnesses, but need to speak to some key people who may have been on a bus or tram which passed the traction engine around the time of the incident, which occurred at around 3pm."

The award-winning museum was busy with families on the first weekend of the school holidays.

Karl and his father, both steam enthusiasts, were frequent volunteers at the museum.

Richard Evans, the museum's director, said: "We continue to support the joint investigation and offer our deep condolences to Karl's family."

The museum, which recreates life in north-east England during the industrialisation of the 19th and early 20th centuries, was closed after the incident, but reopened on Monday.

Among its attractions is a mid-19th century drift mine, which reopened as an attraction in 1970.

Hundreds of people left tributes messages of condolence and tributes to Karl .

Kenny Flint Snr wrote: "Such a sad, sad day. A young lad doing something he must have really enjoyed, being involved and around steam engines.

"RIP little man, our thoughts go out to your family and friends."

Others emphasised the previous safety record of the museum, which opened in 1970.

Karin Clarke wrote: "Beamish has an excellent safety record, given the activities ongoing there daily. As sad as this is, please nobody blow this out of proportion, nobody involved will ever be the same, but the museum experience must continue."