A 12-year-old boy ‘may have tripped’ when he was hit by a lorry as he jogged along the busy road with friends, inquest heard

A 12-year-old boy allegedly tripped and hit a van as he ran across a busy road with his friends, an inquest heard yesterday.

Harrison Palmer, of Camborne, Cornwall, was pronounced dead at the scene of the single-vehicle collision.

It happened on the A3047 Agar Road junction with Wilson Way, Pool, near Redruth, at around 3.35pm on March 11.

The four boys had only gone into town that day after school because their soccer practice had been canceled.

They ran to the central reservation island, but Harrison Palmer for some reason did not stop and was hit by the truck in the opposite lane.

The 68-year-old driver of the Ford Iveco truck, Kelvin Fulcher, was arrested at the scene but no further action was taken against him.

Builder Mr Fulcher says he was driving 26mph on the 30mph road at the time, the inquest at Truro Crown Court heard.

He said he knew four children were walking towards the central reservation, but then he heard a thud as he passed it and stopped.

He told the hearing: “I don’t know if he fell or tripped, I assume he must have tripped. I passed and heard a thud, it was not a very pleasant feeling.

Mr Fulcher tested negative for drink and drugs and was not using his mobile phone at the time of the collision.

There were some minor defects in his truck, but they did not cause or contribute to the accident.

Harrison’s mother, Natalie Buckland, said: “He was always so cautious about crossing roads, stopping and checking several times, not crossing if a vehicle was in sight even in the distance. I think that makes it harder to understand.

“Our beautiful boy is gone and his death has had a huge impact on the lives of all who knew and loved him. Every aspect of our lives has been affected and turned upside down. Our hearts will always be broken and we are all so lost without him.

She said Harrison was a keen footballer, loved the outdoors and was “cheeky, hilariously funny and quick-witted”.

Harrison’s family said his death had affected his school, friends, the lorry driver, emergency services and those who helped at the scene and wanted to praise the “incredible work that our emergency services do”.

The coroner recorded the conclusion of the road collision.