Boy fell under lorry on way to school - inquest

Hussein Quig-Diop died at the scene on Shobnall Road, Burton-on-Trent, last September

A "precious" 13-year-old boy stumbled and fell underneath a lorry as he rode his bike to school with a friend, an inquest has heard.

Hussein Quig-Diop, from Burton-on-Trent, suffered traumatic head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene on Shobnall Road on 13 September last year.

An inquest into his death at Stoke Town Hall on Thursday was told witnesses saw him lose his balance and go "straight forward" over the handlebars of his bicycle into the path of a lorry.

HGV driver Roy Sibblies told the inquest he was "devastated" at what happened and would "turn back the clock in a heartbeat" if he could.

The incident happened as the lorry was making a left turn into Shobnall Road from the junction with Wellington Road at around 08:30 BST.

In a statement, Mr Sibblies explained he saw Hussein and another boy riding their bicycles on the pavement as he was approaching the junction.

While the older child had gone straight across the junction, he said Hussein stopped at the edge of the road and had his foot on the floor.

Mr Sibblies said: "As I was exiting the roundabout left, I was satisfied he was going to stay on the pavement.

"As I turned, I saw him on the ground at the rear of the trailer. At first I thought he had fallen but then I had the sickening feeling he wasn't going to get up."

He added: "I couldn't think straight, I was in utter shock and I felt numb.

"I can't explain how devastated I feel. I will never get over this."

The accident happened as the HGV driver was turning from Wellington Road into Shobnall Road last September (generic image)

'No suggestion either at fault'

The inquest heard the John Taylor Free School pupil had been riding a bike given by a friend after his bus service was cancelled.

Hussein's mother Kimberley Quig said she had promised to buy him a new one for Christmas and was unaware of any defects with the one he was riding.

Staffordshire Police forensic collision investigator PC Daniel Sutton told the court the bike may have been too big for Hussein, which may have contributed to his fall.

He added the lorry was in the correct road position, had no defects and had only reached a maximum speed of 16mph (25.7km/h) according to its dashcam, while Hussein's bike did not have a rear brake.

Area coroner Emma Serrano said neither Hussein nor Mr Sibblies could be blamed for the incident and recorded the teenager's death as a road traffic collision.

She said: "Hussein fell in to the road as Mr Sibblies is driving his lorry. There is no suggestion either were at fault.

"Hussein was on the pavement and for whatever reason, he has fallen into the road at exactly the wrong time."

In a statement after Hussein's death, his family described him as "a precious son" who would be "missed more than we can put into words".