A two-year-old girl died after being struck by a Land Rover travelling at walking pace on a farm in Somerset, an inquest has heard. Amelia Edwards suffered fatal head injuries at Westermill Farm in Exford, near Minehead, on 6 December last year.
The inquest in Taunton was told that Amelia was in the grounds of the property with two family members when the driver stopped to speak to them. As the conversation took place, Amelia walked around the front of the vehicle, stopped, then walked back, before being hit.
The Land Rover's engine had cut out automatically due to a stop/start system, leading investigators to believe Amelia may have thought it was safe to walk in front. Sergeant Joseph Sample of Avon and Somerset Police said the vehicle never exceeded walking pace, yet the impact caused fatal injuries.
Sergeant Sample described the entire incident, from when the driver stopped to when he stopped again after impact, as lasting 30 seconds. He added that the driver would not have been able to see Amelia at any point, and the parking sensors were not activated.
No alcohol, drugs, or mobile phone use were factors, and no mechanical faults were found with the vehicle. The driver and family members were not named, but Amelia's parents attended the inquest.
