The press already absolving the driver:
Baby boy killed as car ploughs into pushchair after 'brakes failed'
21.08.07
A baby boy was killed after a car mounted the pavement and crashed
into his pushchair - after its brakes failed.
The two-month-old baby was being pushed along a street in Willesden
Green, north London, by his mother when the car careered into them.
The silver Ford Fiesta mounted the pavement at a junction and then
travelled 35 yards before colliding with the pushchair.
Police are investigating whether the accident could have been caused
by the driver's jeans being caught on the brake pedal.
The 62-year-old male driver, from Harrow, voluntarily attended Kilburn
Police Station, where he was interviewed.
Inspector Andy Nelson, of the collision investigation unit, said: "He
alleged that the collision was due to brake failure.
"My unit are currently investigating all the circumstances surrounding
this tragic incident."
He said the mother, a 32-year-old local woman, and her husband, who
have no other children, were "extremely distressed" by what had
happened.
Not all relatives have been informed yet.
He went on: "They are extremely distressed and it is very early in the
proceedings."
Mr Nelson said the car had mounted the footway at a junction 35 yards
from the scene of the crash. The baby suffered serious head injuries
in the accident.
On whether the man was saying his jeans had caught in the brake pedal,
the inspector said: "That is one of a number of things we are
investigating."
He said the man had been released after the interview, and did not
face any further action at this stage, though he could do at some
point.
The inspector declined to give an estimate of the speed at which the
car was travelling.
The driver was questioned by police and released. He stopped at the
scene and was breath tested by police but not arrested. The breath
test was negative.
Scotland Yard said officers were called to Park Avenue after the
collision at 6.10pm last night.
The child suffered multiple injuries and was taken to the Royal Free
Hospital where he received emergency treatment but was pronounced dead
at 7pm.
Tony Singh, 40, a property developer, who lives across the road with
wife Govinder, 35, said: "We heard the noise, and I rang for an
ambulance.
"I was speaking to the paramedics on my mobile phone and they told me
to go to the baby, and that an ambulance was on the way.
"The baby was still, then gave a hiccup, and the paramedics told me to
pinch him to get a reaction.
"He screamed a little, and then the mother was pinching him too, then
the ambulance arrived.
"Although he had blood on his head, I was hoping so much that he would
be all right, and it was so sad when the police officers doing door-to-
door inquiries told me later in the evening that he had died.
"I have my own 13-month-old child, Jasmine, and had picked her up from
nursery earlier.
"If the traffic had been a bit heavier, and we were 20 minutes later,
it could have been us." Bus driver Andrew Luwum, 44, saw the aftermath
of the accident.
"The car had knocked down the wall, the mother was screaming and the
driver was still there.
"This road is very safe, I've lived here 12 years and I've never known
anything like this.
"I have my own 19-month-old daughter, Precious, and it makes you very
aware of what can happen."
A post mortem examination will take place in due course, with an
inquest to follow. The identity of the child has not yet been
released.
Sergeant Malcolm Cumberlidge said officers were investigating various
possible causes of the incident - including the condition of the car
and the way it was being driven.
He said: "What we know so far is that the vehicle mounted the footpath
and struck the child in the pushchair who later died.
"The mother was injured but subsequently released from hospital.
"At this early stage we are investigating why this has happened and
have various possibilities."
Police asked any witnesses to call the collision investigation unit at
Alperton on 020 8998 5319.
