Kyle Bastable: Schoolboy crushed to death under lorry at notorious roundabout, inquest hears
A schoolboy on his way home was 'crushed' when he collided with a lorry near a busy roundabout, an inquest heard.
Kyle Bastable died when DPD driver David Hadley's lorry struck the youngster near Oldbury's Birchley Island.
The 11-year-old was 'dragged under the lorry' for 39 metres but the crash was unavoidable, Black Country Coroner's Court was told.
Black Country Coroner Mr Zafar Siddique recorded a verdict that Kyle died as a result of a road traffic collision - which occurred just after 10pm.
Catastrophic injuries
He said: "Kyle sustained catastrophic injuries and died at the scene. I have heard the evidence from Mr Hadley, who on oath, said he did not see Kyle until a collision occurred."
Mr Hadley told the inquest he was on his regular 150-mile route from Devon to the company's Oldbury depot on August 31.
He said he approached the roundabout in the outside lane and was heading towards the Wolverhampton Road exit, near the Shell petrol station, when he spotted Kyle's friend cycling across the road about 20 metres in front.
Mr Hadley, who has been a lorry driver for the past 29 years, said: "Obviously it caught my attention because I think, in all the years I have been going there, I have never seen anyone crossing from the centre of the island."
'I think of him every day'
Giving evidence on Friday, he recalled slowing down, watching the youngster move on to the pavement and checking his mirrors.
He then felt a 'bump' and decided to pull over, discovering the Rowley Regis youngster - also known as Joe - had got caught under the lorry's wheels and died, the inquest heard.
Mr Hadley insisted he had not seen Kyle crossing at the roundabout and said: "In my heart, my conscious is clear. I know I was doing nothing wrong that night and since it's happened, every day I have thought of Kyle."
Collision investigator Pc Justin Williams told the inquest tachograph data showed Mr Hadley had been driving at 35mph in the 40mph zone.
He added: "It's unlikely the collision could have been avoided had Mr Hadley seen Kyle."
