Tragedy as grandad ran over and killed grandson just as he had started taking his first steps
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A pensioner ran over and killed his 14-month-old great-grandson who had just started taking his first steps, as he pulled away from the family's home, an inquest heard.
Robert Dollimore was behind the wheel of an Isuzu when he was leaving after visiting and was unaware the baby had managed to get onto the driveway.
As he drove away he felt two bumps and immediately got out of the car and found the baby laying unconscious and seriously injured on the drive.
The inquest heard Mr Dollimore would not have known little Jacob was by the car and was in a blind spot meaning the driver could not have seen him as he started the journey.
Jacob was pronounced dead by paramedics who arrived at his parents home on September 13 last year.
(Photo: INS News Agency Ltd)
(Photo: INS News Agency Ltd)
A post mortem examination later concluded that nothing could have been done to save the little boy, regardless of how soon the ambulance arrived, because of the severity of his head injuries.
The boy's mother, 26-year-old Catherine Burden, who attended the inquest in a pink T-shirt and short-cropped pink hair, sobbed as the medical details were read out by pathologist Dr Nicholas Hunt.
Dr Hunt concluded little Jacob had suffered complex skull and facial fracturing which claimed his life almost instantly, and had also suffered bruising to his body.
"There would have been nothing that could have been done to save his life," Dr Hunt said. "There were injuries to his face and limbs caused by his contact with the pavement.
(Photo: INS News Agency Ltd)
"That would make his cause of death to be blunt head injuries."
Thames Valley Police investigating officer Police Constable Stephen Moffat, said: "This incident was reminiscent of incidents we see all the time, particularly with adults and with cars and lorries."
"What we have us a toddler who was walking, sitting or manoeuvring around in proximity to a large vehicle.
"Was it possible to lose sight of Jacob from the viewpoint of the driver's seat? Yes, of course it was.
(Photo: INS News Agency Ltd)
"It is not until you carry out this analysis that you realise how little of the road you can actually see once you are in the vehicle."
He described Jacob as a "young man who was swift on his feet", and said his great-grandfather would not have been aware of his presence as he was engaged in a conversation with his father prior to the crash.
Citing a police report examining the swiftness of 17-month old toddlers, three months older than little Jacob, PC Moffat said that children of that age would usually need between 12 and 30 seconds to travel the distance between his parents' front door and the car.
"You turn your back on them and they're gone," he added. "He would have been pushed over and the driver of the vehicle would have had no clue this was going on."
In a statement read out at the inquest, Mr Dollimore said: "I spoke to Ryan who was doing his work outside," He said. "I [then] got to my car and drove off.
(Photo: INS News Agency Ltd)
"I felt two bumps and I stopped the car. If I had seen anyone I would not have moved my car."
Mr Dollimore was arrested on suspicion of neglect and death by careless driving after the event last year, but was also released without charge. He did not attend the inquest in person.
Jacob's parents were also arrested on suspicion of neglecting a child on the day of Jacob's death, but were released from custody with no charge.
Senior Buckinghamshire coroner Crispin Butler recorded a verdict of death by road traffic accident.
He said: "I have sufficient facts from Stephen Moffat and the statements that have been read to conclude this inquest.
"This appears to be a low speed impact from an analysis and what we have heard from the post mortem examination.
"Jacob received immediately fatal head injuries at Long Hale, Pitstone shortly after 3pm on September 13 2016.
"The medical cause of death would have been blunt head injuries.