In a tragic incident on March 26, 2023, a father cried out for help after his four-year-old son, Jayden Kearns, was struck by a neighbour's minibus in New Rough Hey, Preston, Lancashire. Jayden, who loved Paw Patrol and Spiderman, was playing on his bike outside his home with other children when the accident occurred.

Chris Cleaver, the driver of the minibus and operator of a school run service for children with special needs, had just returned home from work around 4:35 PM. Jayden's grandmother, Kathleen Yates, was at her daughter’s home at the time, having just picked him up from a childminder. She observed Mr. Cleaver driving into the cul-de-sac, believing he was going too fast.

Mr. Cleaver parked his Citroen Relay and communicated with his children before attempting to leave. After checking his mirrors, he began to drive away when he struck Jayden.

Witness Derek Winstanley reported seeing Jayden being dragged under the minibus. After exiting the vehicle, Mr. Cleaver picked Jayden up and called for emergency services. Neighbours rushed outside to assist, while Mr. Cleaver was seen distraught by the roadside.

Jayden's father rushed out, shouting, "my boy, my boy, help my boy." Emergency responders provided a blood transfusion at the scene before transporting Jayden to the Royal Preston Hospital under police escort. Despite efforts to save him, he suffered severe head and chest injuries and was in cardiac arrest upon arrival.

Sadly, Jayden was pronounced dead later, with the cause of death recorded as chest trauma, according to reports from LancsLive.

During the inquest, Preston Coroner's Court revealed that Mr. Cleaver had passed all roadside drug and alcohol tests. He claimed to have checked for pedestrians before moving, but said his view was obscured by a wheelchair ramp inside the minibus. Collision investigator PC Rachel Carbery noted that the vehicle had a "significant blind spot" impacting visibility, confirming that Mr. Cleaver was not speeding.

A police investigation assessed whether Mr. Cleaver had committed an offence of causing death by careless driving, concluding there was insufficient evidence of wrongdoing. Sergeant Matt Davidson stated, "We would need to show his standard of driving fell below what would have been expected. From our investigation that was just not found to be the case."

Area Coroner Kate Bisset concluded the inquest by stating there were no evidential circumstances requiring referral to the Crown Prosecution Service. She confirmed, "Jayden Paul Anthony Kearns died on March 26, 2023, at the Royal Preston Hospital as a result of injuries sustained in a road traffic collision at New Rough Hey."