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A nine-year-old boy died immediately when the 4X4 his father was driving fell down a hill and overturned. Jake Allen was ejected from the vehicle in the crash at an off-road adventure course, according to an investigation.
The schoolboy suffered “serious head injuries” after his father Simon lost the Land Rover Discovery at the Coney Green Farm 4X4 off-road site in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcs. An investigation revealed how the changed vehicle came to a stop as Simon was negotiating a steep incline. .
Then it collapsed, hit a tree stump, and flipped over 3 or 4 times. Mr Allen wept as he told the Worcestershire Coroner’s Court how he had noticed his son’s death during the off-road holiday weekend he had helped organise.
He shared how he stayed at Coney Green Farm in September 2022 with his wife Tuesday Hawkes, their daughter, and their other daughter, Jake’s sister, when the twist of fate happened. They had gone for a walk but ran into problems along the way. road circuit when they tried to navigate a slope of more than 30 percent.
He told the audience how the twist of fate came about. He said: “It’s quite a gentle hill. I’ve been through it several times. I’ve had a lot of off-road experiences.
“We went to the most sensitive part of the hill in a comfortable place. We got to a point where we lost traction, the wheels skidded. The front of the car began to tilt.
“He let go of the throttle and the car stalled. The front of the vehicle began to tilt. I was surprised. I started the vehicle again, put it in the wrong direction, and started turning left to go uphill. As the vehicle subsidized, it stopped and that’s when it started backing up.
“I tried to restart the vehicle and pressed the brake pedal, but it didn’t stop me and accelerated. I heard a thump and that’s what caused the car to roll over. I think it was a tree stump that hit one of the rear wheels.
“I got up from my seat and heard the women screaming. I saw Jake’s face in the air. I tried to catch him. They took it out of my hand.
“They pulled me out of the vehicle, through the driver’s window or through the sunroof. I’m looking for Jake. I’m five or ten yards away from the car. It’s very evident (Jake dead). I stayed with him, calling him by name, waiting for him to get back to me.
He asked about the rules of conduct in the field and told the inquiry that they would not exceed 10 mph. They also wore seat belts and “wouldn’t do the maximum of excessive things. “
He continues, “It’s more of a laugh than a challenge. There is a speed limit and you have to wear your seat belt. It’s 8 km/h in the camp and then 16 km/h in the rest. “
“I would make sure that was the case. It wouldn’t be very difficult to reach 16 km/h, to ride slowly in first gear. It’s just a quiet environment. Seat belts will have to be worn. At the beginning of the day, when I brought other people and there was an argument.
“My vehicle was a Land Rover Discovery. It had a 2. 5-litre BMW six-cylinder engine for more power. Mine was lifted to get more clearance. It had an external cage. The rear has been shortened for greater departure angles. “
Home Office pathologist Dr. Alexander Kolar, who performed Jake’s autopsy, said “death would have been instantaneous. “Dr Kolar said: “There are excessive injuries to Jake’s head and face, with almost loss of integrity to his skull. This would corroborate a forced expulsion.
“There were no brands recommending that Jake wear a seatbelt. Death would have been instantaneous. “
Witness Chris Merriman-Powell, a friend of Mr. Allen’s, said he saw “a frame flying off the driver’s side of the truck. “He also claimed that he assumed that the seat belts were working and that he was not aware of any defects in M’s vehicle. Allen.
He said: “Simon is an amazing all-rounder and is the first to help. I saw Simon go uphill, it was more slippery than usual.
“They took him to a safe position and the truck started turning. I thought I had cut it, and all of a sudden it started to go backwards. I was at the back of the hill and was hunting down his truck. He saw his truck back up about 20 feet and made 4 1/2 turns.
“At the third corner, I saw a frame coming out of the truck driver’s seat. The truck ended up overturning again. “
PC Simon Carpenter, a collision investigator with West Mercia Police, said the centre seatbelt Jake was sitting on was not used, saying it was discovered under the seat and “damaged”.
He told the court: “The rear passenger buckle is damaged. The duration of this central belt lasted for the entire duration. In fact, I don’t think the center belt is in position because of its location (docked under the seat). The passenger’s seat belt is damaged.
Mr. Allen’s girlfriend, who was also in the vehicle at the time, said she did not recall seeing Jake or Simon’s daughter wearing a seatbelt. He told the hearing: “I don’t forget to turn around to look at the back of the car, my daughter was the driver, Jake in the middle and Simon’s daughter me.
“I don’t see them wearing seat belts. We went to some camps. It was muddy and bumpy, but that didn’t bother me. I think the engine stopped because it went silent and I felt like it was backing up.
“We went up and this time Simon looked out the back of the car and tried to spin it. There was a look of panic on his face. I heard crackling, maybe the sound of breaking glass. Still in the car but lying on my left side.
“I heard Simon’s voice shouting Jake’s call as if he was looking for it. Simon kneeling over Jake, shouting his call over and over again. Maybe she saw Jake and knew there was nothing she could do to save him.
“I’d only been in 4×4 twice this weekend. The car had big, oversized wheels and looked like a monster truck. He also told me that he had shortened the hood of the car. I don’t know if Simon talked about that. The investigation continues.