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Father cradled dying 12-year-old son in his arms after road accident, court told

24/ 9/2008

THE father of schoolboy Craig Muskett cradled his dying son in his arms, urging him to wake up after his bike was in collision with a van that failed to stop, an inquest heard.

Dad Ian Muskett told how he ran to the scene of the accident on Friday, May 18, 2007, after his other son came to him screaming that Craig had been run over.

Ian, of Woodgate Close, Bredbury, said: "I shook him, saying can you hear me, and tried CPR, things were fuzzy after that, I remember holding him saying can you hear me, wake up."

The 12-year-old, who was in his first year at Werneth High School, was later pronounced dead at Stepping Hill Hospital. The pathologist gave the cause of death as a result of serious head injuries.

Coroner John Pollard concluded accidental death at the inquest, which was called to a dramatic halt when discrepancies in the evidence were found.

The driver of the blue Mercedes Vito van, Nathan Ball, which was in collision with Craig at around 6.50pm, said he had been in the Queens Pub from 6pm, where he had one pint of lager. But later evidence by police sergeant John White showed CCTV footage of Mr Ball entering the pub at 4.20pm and leaving at 6.40pm.

Mr Ball, who has three children, and had been released from the court earlier in the day, was then ordered back in the afternoon where he said he must have been confused about the timings.

The accident investigator said the van had no defects that contributed to the collision and it was not travelling at a high speed.

He added that Craig came from behind a hedge that was three metres high and the driver had no time to react.

The coroner concluded: "Due to the height of hedge, the motorist would not have seen when Craig emerged from behind it.  But I am less than impressed with the accuracy of Mr Ball’s evidence.  He was warned by me about self incrimination and despite the warning, and to his credit, he gave a full account of the events. But in doing so he gave no cogent reason for not stopping or why he left it until the morning to report the incident to the police. I would have thought the events from this momentous day would be burnt into his memory, instead he seems unsure about a number of important evidential points. But it is not my remit to find fault or blame."

Mr Muskett, 39, who has two other children, said after the inquest that the family would now consider civil proceedings.

He added: "I am pleased with the points the coroner brought up. Craig was a happy, smiling boy, it is a tragic loss to our family and it was the worst day of our lives. As a family every day can only get easier."

Craig’s mum Lyndsay was still too traumatised by the events to attend the inquest.

Verdict: Accidental death