Schoolboy, 12, died as bike careered over road into car

Josh Trowell, 12, was not wearing a helmet and the specialised jumper cycle only had one brake which did not work, the Chesterfield inquest was told.

Josh, who suffered multiple injuries, was flown by air ambulance to hospital but died later. His friend William Bradley, also 12, was seriously injured but has now recovered after several weeks in hospital.

The hearing was told that Josh and his older brother Reece had been brought up by their 71-year-old grandmother Margaret Crehan at her home in Shuttlewood, near Chesterfield.

She told the inquest: ”I’ve got five helmets in my shed. I used to check Josh’s bike, but it was the in thing to only have one brake and not wear a helmet.”

The accident happened on October 29 last year when the two friends were out playing in Woodthorpe Road, Shuttlewood. The bike crossed the carriageway and appeared to be turning into nearby Bentnick Road when it ran into a Renault Clio.

Driver Robert McCartney told the Chesterfield hearing the bike “appeared from nowhere” and hit his vehicle. Witnesses told police they saw both boys flying through the air.

He said was driving at 40mph, the speed limit on the road and had no time to avoid the boys.

Motorist Christine Jordan said she had seen the boys going up and down the hill “doing stunts” on previous occasions.

She said: “Josh was on the handlebars, Will was stood up with his feet on the pedals. I think Will saw me and changed direction.

“The Clio didn’t appear to be speeding. I heard the impact and saw both boys go into the air, higher than the car.”

Ms Jordan and her son Declan tried to help the boys before paramedics arrived.

The inquest heard the combination of an ineffective back brake and low tyre pressures, as well as the extra weight, made the bike difficult to steer.

Shortly before the crash, off-duty police officer Tracy Bullas had told the boys to get off the road.

Mrs Crehan added: “This has shattered my life. I will never be the same, part of me has died with Josh.”

Nigel Anderson, deputy coroner for North Derbyshire, recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said: “ There was nothing the driver of the Renault could do to prevent the accident.

“Young boys are out playing, seemingly without a care in the world and suddenly one is killed and another seriously injured.”