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LOVED and missed: Matthew Reger.
Tragic Matt's death could save others
Kirsty Elleray4/ 4/2007
EXCLUSIVE
STOCKPORT'S coroner is demanding a change in the law following the tragic death of a ten-year-old boy.
Matthew Billy Shaw Reger was cycling just yards from his Adswood home when he was killed following a collision with a truck.
At Matthew's inquest yesterday, Stockport coroner John Pollard - who ruled the death was accidental - said the boy's life could have been saved if the truck had been fitted with side protection bars.
He will now be writing to the Secretary of State for Transport urging him to amend the 30-year-old law on recovery trucks, which are exempt from safety bars.
Mr Pollard said: "It seems in this case side bars would have been effective, as it may have stopped Matthew from going under the rear wheel. They may not have saved Matthew's life but it also may have done, and could help save others.
"I would urge a revising of legislation. It has not been amended since 1978 and vehicles have changed dramatically since then. The cost of fitting the bars is not a significant reason for not having them compared to saving a child's life."
Kath Reger, Matthew's grandmother, burst into tears on hearing the coroner's words, and said: "If the bars were there, it might have helped save his life. I am so bitter about it, my grandson has been taken from us."
The coroner's decision to act was welcomed by Matthew's mum, Helen Reger, who attended the inquest in a Manchester United shirt with 'Matt' written on the back.
The 29-year-old, from Culver Drive, Adswood, who has two other children, Shianice and Brent, said after the inquest: "I can handle the outcome, we know it was not the driver's fault, but having those side bars may have given him a chance to survive.
"We are pleased the coroner brought it up and we will be taking the matter further. Matthew was always on the go, he loved football and playing on his bike. He was fun-loving and we miss him a lot."
The inquest, at Stockport Magistrates Court, heard how Matthew was riding his bike to meet friends before he started out for school on Tuesday October 10, last year when he was in collision with the truck on the corner of Neston Grove and Rostherne Road.
Cub scout Matthew, who tried to stop the red bike by braking and dragging his foot on the ground, collided with the side of the DAF LF45 flat back recovery truck and slid under the rear wheels.
The pathologist said Matthew, an Adswood Primary pupil and avid Manchester United fan, died of head injuries and his death would have been almost instantaneous.
Accident investigator Sergeant Christopher Noblett said the driver of the truck, Phillip Smith, 37, of Neston Grove, Adswood, was travelling at no more than 17mph in the 20mph zone.
But he added: "There were no under run bars, which may have helped Matthew from going under the rear vehicle wheels."
Louise Turner, an engineer from the Department of Transport, said recovery vehicles were exempt from having under run bars and that one of the reasons they are not fitted to these vehicles is the pay load.
She added: "Technically speaking there is no reason why these vehicles could not be fitted with side bars."
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9/04/2007 at 11:21
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