A three-year-old was killed in the blind spot of a Hermes delivery driver who reversed into her, an inquest heard.
Milliee-Ann Rae McKellar was hit by the Mercedes Sprinter van outsider of her grandmother's home. The driver had entered the cul-de-sac and parked with two wheels on the pavement in order to deliver parcels to the area.
After returning to his van, he checked his mirrors and rear camera and began reversing. However, Milliee was in the blind spot of the vehicle and got struck, falling to the ground.
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Not noticing her, the driver continued his manoeuvre with both front and back nearside wheels travelling over the girl. Emergency services were called to the collision in Calne, Wiltshire, but despite their best efforts, Milliee was pronounced dead by critical care doctor Patrick Morgan at 1.08pm on March 3, 2021.
An inquest into the child's death was held by area coroner Ian SIngleton at Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner's Court in Salisbury last Thursday (May 18). The inquest heard that Milliee's mother, Tanzin Wells, said in a statement to police that she was playing in the street and would often play with other children.
She highlighted that MIlliee had good road safety knowledge and would stop and look when crossing a road. Ms Wells, who was sitting in a nearby garden with neighbours when the incident happened, said she was keeping an eye on Milliee through the gaps in a picket fence.
While she told police Milliee was standing on the pavement when hit, PS Jonothan Brooks, an officer assigned to the forensic collision investigation unit, said that in his opinion she would have been standing in the carriageway at the time of the impact.
'She didn't stand a chance'
Neighbour Steven Hargreaves said in a statement that he had arrived home moments before the incident. As he parked up, Milliee was standing behind the unattended van and said 'hi' to him.
He then went indoors and while standing at his kitchen window, he witnessed the delivery driver running back to his van and quickly jump into it, approaching it from the front. Mr Hargreaves said Milliee attempted to move when the van started reversing but she 'didn't stand a chance'.
He added: "She was hit by the van and both the front and rear wheels went over her." He rushed out to help and found Milliee with what he described as "obviously crush injuries".
When asked why he discounted the evidence of Ms Wells and other family members who were sitting in a garden, who claimed Milliee was on the pavement rather than the road, PS Jonathan Brooks said he "applied consideration" but their views of Milliee would have been obstructed by a picket fence and six wheelie bins "which would have made difficult, in my opinion, to place her with any accuracy".
The officer confirmed that the investigation found that Milliee would have been in the driver's blind spot - and would not have been seen on checking his mirrors and the van's rearview camera. He highlighted that Milliee would have limited road sense and would have been unable to appreciate the dangers vehicles pose.
He added that Milliee's stature would have meant that for the driver, it was "unlikely he was able to appreciate what was occurring". He added: "It is my view that he wouldn't have realised what was occurring until Milliee and the scooter [that she was holding] came into view."
No action against driver
The inquest heard that Milliee sustained a significant base skull fracture with compounds on the left and right sides of her skull. There were areas of subarachnoid and subdural haemorrhage, brain swelling and multiple pelvic fractures.
Mr Singleton recorded Milliee's cause of death as road traffic collision. He passed his condolences to her family and thanked them for attending.
Wiltshire Police previously confirmed that the driver involved won’t be prosecuted over the incident. In a statement last year, the force said: “An investigation into the circumstances of a collision in Calne in which a three-year-old girl sadly died has now concluded.
“A thorough investigation led by specialist officers has been conducted and a file was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service who concluded that no further action will be taken against the driver of the van involved. The parents of the young girl have been informed and our thoughts remain with them at this time.”
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