7-year-old boy horrifically crushed to death after driver 'hit wrong button'
Topics: UK News
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: SWNS/Terraxplorer via Getty
Topics: UK News
A seven-year-old boy tragically died after being horrifically crushed in a car park following a rugby match.
Alfie Tollett had been watching his bother play in a match at his local club in Plymouth, UK, when the awful incident occurred.
A coroner heard Alfie was putting his shoes back on when he got wedged between two cars.
An opening statement at the beginning of the inquest stated an electric vehicle had been struggling to park and 'shunted' another car.
Advert
A driver behind the wheel of a Jaguar Land Rover I-PACE was trying to find the reverse but instead accelerated forwards.
Unlike many other cars, the Jaguar was an automatic and has three buttons: drive, neutral and reverse.
The driver accidentally selected the drive button and the subsequent collision at Plymstock Albion Oaks Rugby club saw a car land onto Alfie, causing the fatal crush.
The statement on behalf of the coroner Ian Arrow read: "[Alfie] was stood at the rear of the family car changing his boots for his shoes after watching his brother play rugby.
"A stationary vehicle parked behind the family vehicle was then struck by another electrically propelled vehicle that was attempting to park; this vehicle has shunted forward the parked vehicle and crushed Alfie between the two vehicles.
"Alfie was conveyed to Derriford Hospital, but sadly passed away."
Alfie's official cause of death was given at the hearing as blunt force traumatic chest injuries.
Local authorities say Alfie was taken to Derriford Hospital with serious injuries. He was pronounced dead around an hour after the incident.
While a 55-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, he won't be charged because 'he died of natural causes shortly after this incident'.
Police are continuing to appeal to any witnesses who may have information on the tragedy to come forward immediately.
The coroner has stated design choices made by Jaguar could prevent similar disasters happening in the future.
He wrote: "These errors occurred as a result of there being no intermediary step within the Jaguar I-Pace being necessary to put the car into drive/reverse other than pressing a button.
"In the police officer’s opinion if there had also been a lever or something similar present in the vehicle that needed to be engaged before a button was pressed this may have alerted [the driver] to the fact that he had pushed the incorrect button."
A Jaguar spokesperson told the BBC: "We have received correspondence from the coroner and shall be responding in due course."
Tributes have poured in for Alfie following the 19 February incident, including his family.
In a statement released in the days after his death, they said: "This has to be one of the hardest things we have had to do as a family. On Sunday, our precious little Alfie was involved in a horrible incident where sadly he lost his life.
“This has left a massive hole in our whole family. Our Alfie was not just our son and brother, but also a grandson, a cousin, a nephew and a friend to so many people.
“He was our special cheeky, funny and precious little man. Our hearts are completely broken. We are so numb and are struggling to understand why this has happened. We would like to thank you for the kind words of support we have received.
“To our Alfie moos, we miss you sweetheart and we will never ever forget you. Fly high our baby. Thank you for the best seven years of our lives. All our love Mummy, Daddy, Jack and Teddy.”