Mexborough and Swinton Times, October 3rd, 1942
Warned “Pal” – Then Killed
Wombwell Street Accident
A suggestion that a sandbag buttress erected outside the women’s Labour Exchange in Park Street, Wombwell, constituted an obstruction to pedestrian traffic and therefore should be removed, was made at the inquest on Monday on Roy Armitage (6) son of Andrew Armitage, colliery surface worker, Hawson Street, Wombwell, who was knocked down by a passenger bus and killed at this spot on Friday.
It was stated that at the time of the accident the boy was on his way to Park Street School, and that to get from his home to the school he would have to cross the road at some point. Witnesses stated that the driver of the bus, Lewis Spencer, East Avenue, Wombwell, an employee of the Yorkshire Traction Co., did all he could to avoid an accident but had no chance, the boy stepping off the pavement in front of the bus without any indication of his intention to do so. The inquest was conducted by the Deputy District Coroner (Mr. S. H. Gill) and Mr. C. M. Pratt, of Barnsley represented the bus company and the driver. Mr. T. Bird, a representative of the Cortonwood branch of the Y.M.A., was present.
The father said the child, who was normally healthy and had good sight and hearing, would have to travel about 200 yards along the main street to the scene of the accident. On his way to school he called for two pals and to a younger one remarked “Come on; take hold of my hand. You know what the buses are like at the top of the street.” The children from Hawson Street had been told to walk on the left side of the road to the Ship Inn before crossing over.
Fred Bitchell miner, Hough Lane, Wombwell, said at 1-25 p.m. on Friday he was standing on the footpath in front of the Ship In, when he noticed children coming to school on the opposite side – three in front and the little boy behind. The boy seemed to step off the footpath into the roadway and had no sooner done this than he was struck by the motor bus coming from the direction of Wombwell. The bus was travelling about ten to fifteen miles an hour on its proper side.
The boy never turned round but kept going forward. When he did this the bus was not many yards away. The driver pulled up hard and swerved across the road, and at first, he (witness) thought he had missed him. Then he saw the boy in the roadway about two feet or a yard off the pavement. It was the near side of the bus that seemed to hit him at the back of the head, knocking him down. The bus stopped about six to eight yards past him. Witness said he did not hear a horn but was not taking particular notice until it happened
The coroner: Do you think the driver could have avoided the boy? Witness: I do not think he could. Witness added “I think he did all he could to avoid an accident. It is a dangerous corner in a way.”
Narrow Path
Douglas Percival, labourer, 57, Park Street, Wombwell, said the boy suddenly stepped off the pavement and started to run into the roadway apparently intending to cross The boy appeared to run with the near-side wheel, and then witness heard a thud. He did not know whether it was the centre of the mudguard or the door-jamb that struck the child. The bus driver did all he could to avoid the accident. Witness said It was a very narrow footpath obstructed by sandbags outside the Women’s Labour Exchange, leaving insufficient room for two persons to pass. Mr. T. Bird said he wanted to confirm this. In his opinion it was the worst piece of causeway in the town. It was a very dangerous point.
Percival said the sandbags were in a wooden casing covered with brattice and in his opinion the obstruction should be removed.
The driver of the bus said that so far as he could recollect, he was travelling at about 20 miles an hour. The boy left the footpath and ran diagonally across the road. He swerved with him to try to avoid an accident, but was unable to do so. The boy would be eight to ten feet in front of the bus when he stepped off the pavement.
P.c. Woolcott said when he arrived the driver had gone on his journey and the boy had been removed by ambulance. The roadway was 25 feet wide and there was a brake mark of 24ft 6in starting 4ft from the near-side kerb and ending 7ft 6in from the kerb. Later he examined the brakes of the bus and found them in exceptionally good order. Questioned by the coroner regarding the sandbags in front of the Labour Exchange, witness also expressed the opinion that they ought to be removed.
The coroner returned a verdict of “Death by misadventure,” and said “It seems quite clear that this boy stepped into the roadway without giving any indication. There is no allegation against the driver of driving at an excessive speed.” The driver seems to have done all he could to avoid an accident. Speaking to Sergt Kenny about the sandbags the Coroner said, “I think it would be a good thing if you had a word with them and made some arrangements to have these sandbags removed. Most of these sandbags are being moved now.”
Mr. T. Bird promised to raise the matter at a meeting of the Highways Committee of the Wombwell U.D.C. that night. Mr. Bird also expressed sympathy with the relatives and the father said he was sorry for the driver.
The interment of the boy took place at Wombwell cemetery on Tuesday, the service being conducted by the Rector of Wombwell. Funeral arrangements were in the hands of Mr. H. L. Guest, Undertaker and Funeral Director, Park Street, Wombwell. Phone: Wombwell 178.