South Yorkshire Times January 2, 1943
Boy Cyclist Killed
Mexborough Business Family’s Tragic Loss
A well-known Mexborough business family was bereaved in tragic circumstances on Saturday by the death of Alan Fred Green (15), only son of Mr. and Mrs. F. S. Green, of 92, Adwick Road, Mexborough. The boy was killed while cycling in Bank Street. Mexborough, on Saturday morning, when he came into collision with a trolley bus. The accident occasioned widespread regret in the town and the bereaved parents have received many expressions of sympathy in their sad loss,
The Inquest
A verdict of ” Accidental death ” was recorded by the Doncaster District Coroner (Mr W.H Carlile) at the inquest on Tuesday.
Mr. Fred Green, father, gave evidence of identification. He said he left home at 8.15 on Saturday morning to go to his shop. His son told him that he was going into the town to do some shopping. About 11.30 witness was told that his son had met with an accident.
Thomas Jeavons, old-age pensioner, of 36, Dryden Road, Mexborough, said about 10.55 a.m. he was walking along Bank Street towards Swinton, being on the right hand side footpath. He was looking in a shop window as he was walking slowly along and saw neither the bus nor the boy. He heard a crash and ran back.
The Coroner asked witness why in his statement to the police, he said he saw the vehicle and the boy. Jeavons replied. that he saw the trackless some distance away and noticed the boy because of the new bicycle he was riding.
Road Dry
John Frederick Marie, of 34, North Street, Ryecroft, Rawmarsh, a trolley bus driver, employed by the Mexborough and Swinton Traction Company, said at 10:55 AM he was driving the bus along Bank Street from the direction of Conisbrough. He did not see the other trolley bus until the actual moment of impact. He was then approximately 100 yards away. At the moment of impact the road was dry and conditions were good. He did not see the boy at all until he was in front of the bus about to be knocked down. Witness did not know when he came from. The boy, from witnesses view, appeared to be broadside with his front wheel near the curb in front of their trolley buses nearside front wheel. The trackless was about 4 feet away from the curb. When the impact occurred the bus stop almost immediately and witness went to the police station. He saw the bus cover the cyclist with its near front wheel. When he returned to the scene the bus had been lifted off the boy, who was afterwards taken away by ambulance.
Inspector Waugh: Did you see anything at all in front of the cyclist which would cause him to go in front of the bus?
Witness: No.
In answer to Mr A.H. Jackson who represented the Traction company, witness said the whole of the bus was on its proper side. Sergeant V.E.R. Appleton said he arrived at the scene of the accident about 11:05 AM. The boy had then been released but had not been taken away and was lying at the side of the road. There was blood on the road, the nearest point being 3’2” from the edge of the nearside curb facing Conisbrough. The bus had been moved about 20 yards further on. Doctor Lindsay was in attendance. There was some scratch marks commencing at a distance of 9’3” from the edge of the nearside curb running parallel with the curb for a distance of 4’8” and these appeared to have been made by the cyclist. The road surface was good and dry at the time. The width of the road was 28 feet and the width of the bus 7’6”. The bicycle was badly damaged and there was a slight dent in the coachwork of the front of the bus and just behind the bumper bar. He could find no evidence of other traffic being about.
Bus Drivers Evidence
Walter Green, of 7 lower Dolcliffe Road, Mexborough, driver of the bus involved said he was driving the vehicle from Rotherham to Conisbrough, and at about 10.55 that morning was passing through Mexborough. He had only been driving public service vehicle straight month, but 20 years driving experience of other vehicles. That morning he was travelling about 15 mph and was on its proper side of the road. He saw the cyclist coming towards him. The boy was about 40 yards away when he first saw him riding with his head down. As soon as witness so that the boy was on his correct side he paid attention to his own way because there was a stationary car on his side. He started to pull out against the Library to pass the car and when the distance between his bus and the boy had narrow to the length of the bus the boy swerved across the road at an angle of 45°. Witness jammed both brakes on, but gave no warning. It never occurred to him that there was any danger of the boy coming across the road, The bus was about four feet away from the kerb, but had not quite reached the car.
The Coroner: Did he seem to be riding normally for a boy of his age ?—Witness: Yes.
Witness said the near side front wheel went over the boy and he felt a bump. The boy was between the front and rear wheels.
There was nothing to indicate that the boy skidded over the road? – No.
Witness said as far as he knew the boy never saw the bus.
Mr Green, the boy’s father, asked if his son’s foot slipped off the pedal or if you had swerved while changing gear, but witness said he did not know.
Inspector Waugh: do you think there was any possibility of the boy voluntary attempting to cross the road to go to 1 of the shops?
Witness: If he was he gave no indication.
Mr Jackson: There was nothing to obstruct your view on the cyclist? – No.
There was no reason to give warning? – No.
Doctor T Lindsay said when he reached the scene the boy was dead. The wheel had obviously passed all the boys head and chest and death would be instantaneous. Death was due to shock and lacerations of the brain.
At the conclusion of the enquiry Mr F.a stop Green said as a regular user of the road himself, he would like to express sympathy with the trolley bus driver.
Mr Jackson, responding to what he described as “the extremely generous gesture under these conditions,” said the Traction Company deeply regretted his very unfortunate accident.
Inspector Waugh expressed sympathy on behalf of the police.