Child killed by car as he ran to greet aunt

Three-year-old Muhammad Bilal was helping his mother bring the washing in from the line as the rain started to fall on the afternoon of September 13 last year.

After seeing Safina Kansar, he ran out into the road and into the path of a passing Vauxhall Astra.

The youngster was immediately knocked unconscious and became trapped between the car and a speed bump.

After a frantic effort to free him, during which his mother fainted, a neighbour rushed him and his aunt to Calderdale Royal Hospital where he died.

Bilal’s family, of Halifax, wept throughout the inquest into their son’s death, which was held yesterday.

Giving evidence at the hearing in Halifax through an Urdu translator, mother Shaheen Akhtar said: “I had my clothes on the line and Bilal told me to go and get them in because it was raining. My auntie was standing outside of her home on the other side of the street and he ran out towards her.

“When we saw what had happened I ran from one side of the road and my auntie from the other and we could see him trapped under the car.”

Safina Kansar added: “I was outside my house trying to get my clothes in. I was just about to go inside when I heard a scream from Shaheen.”

Coroner Paul Marks said Bilal died of a skull fracture which caused bruising to his brain. He asssured the family their young son would not have suffered.

The car driver, Mohammed Rashad, told the inquest that he did not see Bilal in the road and could not have avoided the collision. Sergeant Steve Green, a collisions expert, said there was no evidence of wrongdoing from the driver.

Mr Marks said that the case was a tragic accident and offered his condolences to the family.