A CORONER has described the tragic death of a five-year-old boy in a road accident as “every parent’s worst nightmare.”

Shane Bartlett, one of twins, suffered massive head injuries after running from between parked cars into the path of a car, the Bournemouth inquest heard.

Assistant Dorset coroner Brendan Allen said “there is no blame that can be laid at anyone’s door” and described the little boy’s death as a tragedy.

He said: “The tragedy is that Shane decided to run into the road and that as he did so a car was travelling down the road at the same time.”

He told the boy’s family: “If he had run out a few seconds earlier or a few seconds later none of us would be here today.”

The inquest heard Shane was walking home from school with his dad, also called Shane, and siblings when the accident took place in Naseby Road, Winton at 3.45pm on Wednesday December 13 last year. The family live nearby in Easter Road.

Mr Bartlett told the hearing: “Shane was behind me. My daughter was across the road. Shane ran into the road. He ran past with the biggest grin on his face.

“I shouted at him. I saw the car coming. He ran across and the car hit him and then drove over him. He came out at the other end.”

The black Vauxhall Corsa involved in the collision was driven by Emma Answer.

She told the inquest: “I didn’t see him until he was in front of my car. I hit him. I don’t recall running over him but then I stopped and he was behind my car. I got out and rang 999.”

Mrs Answer was on her way to drop her friend off at her Naseby Road home and had three small children in the car at the time of the collision.

The inquest heard that Shane suffered severe head injuries and that a trained paramedic who lived nearby was unable to revive him.

He was taken to Poole Hospital where he was pronounced dead just after 5pm.

Accident investigator Sergeant Joe Pardey of Dorset Police said the collision took place in a 30mph limit and that damage to the Vauxhall Corsa suggested it was travelling at low speed.

He added: “Physical evidence supports the suggestion that there was little the driver could have done. The driver has reacted accordingly.”

In a statement read to the court, Shane’s mum, Kylie Bartlett, said: “He was our baby - he was a happy, playful boy. He was one of twins and they were always together.

“He loved to play football and play outside. He had a smile that made you melt. He was loved and adored and we had high hopes for him in life.”

Mrs Bartlett said there are “no words that can express how we, as a family, feel” and she added: “We are so heartbroken.”

Shane was a pupil of Winton primary School where head teacher Neil Tarchetti played tribute to him following the crash.

He described him as a “well-liked and enthusiastic little boy.”

Hundreds of people attended Shane’s funeral at Bournemouth North Cemetery where his small coffin was carried in a glass carriage, pulled by two white horses.