South Yorkshire Times, April 25, 1942
Dash Across Road
Ends In Conisbrough Boy’s Death
A verdict of “Accidental Death” was recorded by the Doncaster District Coroner (Mr. W. H. Carlile) at a Conisbrough inquest on Friday of Dennis Fox (4), son of Pte. and Mrs. Harold Fox, of 29, Holywell Lane, Conisbrough, who was killed by a motor lorry, driven by Frank Chaffey, 32, Beckett Road, Doncaster, in Sheffield Road, Conisbrough, on March 15th.
Frank Gabbitas, lorry driver, 55, Littlemoor Street, Balby said he was driving behind Chaffey. He saw a lorry approaching in the opposite direction and two children waiting to cross the road. The elder of the two children ran across the road between the lorry coming from Doncaster and Chaffey’s. The next thing he knew was when he saw the other child lying in the road.
William Hedrick, 12. Rock Row, Conisbrough, quarry worker, told how he saw Dennis Fox run across the road and the front of the lorry strike him. The lorry would be travelling from 25 to 30 m.p.h.
Dr. W. J. Maclure said death was due to a fractured skull.
P.c. A. A. Bowman said from the commencement of the brake marks to a spot of blood in the centre of the marks was a distance of 45 feet. This was the point where the lorry hit the boy, according to the witnesses. From this point of impact to where the lorry stopped was a distance of 33 feet.
John Edward Ward, 78, Acacia toad, Skellow, lorry driver, who was travelling with Chaffey, said he saw one of the two boys cross the road. As Chaffey’s lorry drew level with the lorry coming from Doncaster the lad seemed to appear from behind the other vehicle, and the mudguard struck him.
Chaffey said he was travelling between 25 and 28 m.p.h. He saw neither of the boys. When the other lorry was getting closer the older boy ran between them. Witness braked and then accelerated. He did not see Dennis Fox at all. He saw some kind of a form across the road but could not tell what it was because it was so sudden.
Inspector Moxon: Were you keeping a proper look-out?—Yes.
How do you account for your mate seeing the boy and you did not?—He had a better view.