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Boy died on 'unofficial' crossing Boy died on 'unofficial' crossing
(about 20 hours later)
A mother who tried to cross a bypass with her children told her six-year-old son to wait on the roadside moments before a car hit him, an inquest heard.A mother who tried to cross a bypass with her children told her six-year-old son to wait on the roadside moments before a car hit him, an inquest heard.
Freddie Litten-James died on the A487 at Cardigan, Ceredigion in September 2006 at an unofficial pedestrian crossing.Freddie Litten-James died on the A487 at Cardigan, Ceredigion in September 2006 at an unofficial pedestrian crossing.
The inquest at Aberystwyth heard how his mother left him briefly while she carried belongings across the road.The inquest at Aberystwyth heard how his mother left him briefly while she carried belongings across the road.
Minutes later he was struck by a car. Death by misadventure was recorded.Minutes later he was struck by a car. Death by misadventure was recorded.
Ceredigion coroner Peter Brunton heard that the unofficial crossing, about 340ft (103.6m) away from an official point, was used by people as a shortcut.Ceredigion coroner Peter Brunton heard that the unofficial crossing, about 340ft (103.6m) away from an official point, was used by people as a shortcut.
The inquest also heard how Freddie's mother Kathryn George-Harries, Drefach Felindre, Carmarthenshire, had crossed the bypass at the unofficial point previously. The inquest also heard how Freddie's mother Kathryn George-Harries, of Drefach Felindre, Carmarthenshire, had crossed the bypass at the unofficial place previously.
I looked left and there was a little boy in the shadow of the trees and next thing he was on the bonnet of the car Iris OwenI looked left and there was a little boy in the shadow of the trees and next thing he was on the bonnet of the car Iris Owen
Mrs George-Harries, her son and daughter, Emma, had decided had decided to go for a picnic on the day of the tragedy on 17 September 2006. Mrs George-Harries, her son and daughter, Emma, had decided to go for a picnic on the day of the tragedy on 17 September 2006.
She crossed the south-bound carriageway with a bag and two small scooters and intended to go back to collect her children when she noticed her son on the roadside, the inquest heard.She crossed the south-bound carriageway with a bag and two small scooters and intended to go back to collect her children when she noticed her son on the roadside, the inquest heard.
Mrs George-Harries gestured to him not to go onto the carriageway, but moments later he was hit by a Fiat car driven by Iris Owen.Mrs George-Harries gestured to him not to go onto the carriageway, but moments later he was hit by a Fiat car driven by Iris Owen.
"I can remember seeing a blue car approaching about 200 yards away up the bypass," said Mrs George-Harries."I can remember seeing a blue car approaching about 200 yards away up the bypass," said Mrs George-Harries.
"I put the children's' scooters down and Freddie said something."I put the children's' scooters down and Freddie said something.
"I told him to stay put and I would come and get him. I was about five strides away from my son. The Fiat was about 100 yards away (at this stage)."I told him to stay put and I would come and get him. I was about five strides away from my son. The Fiat was about 100 yards away (at this stage).
"I know he was only six, but I trusted him sufficiently to stand there and stay put, but for some reason he didn't.""I know he was only six, but I trusted him sufficiently to stand there and stay put, but for some reason he didn't."
Mrs Owen, who was driving the car which collided with the child, told the hearing she could not remember much of what happened.Mrs Owen, who was driving the car which collided with the child, told the hearing she could not remember much of what happened.
"I looked left and there was a little boy in the shadow of the trees and next thing he was on the bonnet of the car," she added."I looked left and there was a little boy in the shadow of the trees and next thing he was on the bonnet of the car," she added.
'Safety''Safety'
The inquest heard that Mrs Owen passed a police eye test in the days after the crash, and that she would not be facing criminal charges.The inquest heard that Mrs Owen passed a police eye test in the days after the crash, and that she would not be facing criminal charges.
Crash witness Matthew Chandler said Freddie appeared to have been distracted moments before he was hit and appeared "excited" and "jumpy".Crash witness Matthew Chandler said Freddie appeared to have been distracted moments before he was hit and appeared "excited" and "jumpy".
Accident investigator Pc Michael John said Mrs Owen had been travelling at between 35 and 45mph at the time of the collision. Accident investigator Pc Michael John said Mrs Owen had been travelling at between 35mph and 45mph at the time of the collision.
Coroner Mr Brunton said: "I find it surprising this method of crossing the road was being employed.Coroner Mr Brunton said: "I find it surprising this method of crossing the road was being employed.
"I put it to Kathryn George-Harries that it might have been better if she had taken the children across the road first with the safety of a concrete barrier, and then go back for the scooters. "I put it to Kathryn George-Harries that it might have been better if she had taken the children across the road first with the safety of a concrete barrier, and then go back for the scooters."
"I can't see any virtue for using the system she adopted in getting her children safely across the road." But Mrs George-Harries disagreed with the coroner, and said the concrete barriers had no foundations.
He added: "I can't see any virtue for using the system she adopted in getting her children safely across the road."
He said he planned to write to Ceredigion Council about his concerns with the bypass.He said he planned to write to Ceredigion Council about his concerns with the bypass.
He said his letter could help prevent a similar accident happening again, although warning signs have been erected at the crossing since the boy's death.He said his letter could help prevent a similar accident happening again, although warning signs have been erected at the crossing since the boy's death.