Inquest Hears How Youngster Was Killed In A Traffic Collision

New road safety measures have been introduced at a site in Cornwall where an 11-year-old boy was killed in a collision with a vehicle.

Caleb Hollow was attempting to cross Loggans Road in Hayle in order to catch a bus to school.

As he walked into the road, a vehicle came towards him and he was struck. The youngster later died in hospital as a result of his injuries.

Since the collision in December 2012, Caleb's friends and family, as well as a significant number of locals, have campaigned for better safety measures.

A pedestrian island has now been introduced, which allows people to cross the busy road one lane at a time, the Western Morning News reports.

Better signs have also been added and the bus stop has been removed.

Despite this, his mother Dawn Chapman told the news provider that more could still be done to ensure nobody else is killed or injured on the road.

An inquest heard how the driver of the car that hit Caleb was travelling at less than 30 mph - which was well within the speed limit - and had not been distracted.

Police officers said it is sometimes difficult for children to gauge which direction a car is moving if they see it in the distance. They suggested that "motion camouflage" could have been one contributing factor behind the collision.

Coroner Barry Van den Berg commented: "It is absolutely devastating to lose a child. It is something we never expect."

The government is keen to improve road safety standards across the country and many areas now enforce 20 mph speed limits directly outside schools.

In some places, councils are also attempting to introduce blanket 20 mph restrictions across entire town and city centres, as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents states there is a 20 per cent chance of somebody dying if they are hit by a car at 30 mph, but this falls to just 2.5 per cent at 20 mph.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a road traffic accident, our personal injury claims team could help to get the compensation, rehabilitation and support you deserve. Visit our Road Traffic Accident Compensation page for more information.