Boy, 11, was killed when he was thrown out of car window after his father crashed into motorway barrier as he drove family home from church on Boxing Day, inquest hears
Boy, 11, was killed when he was thrown out of car window after his father crashed into motorway barrier as he drove family home from church on Boxing Day, inquest hears
An 11-year-old boy was killed after being thrown from a car window when his father crashed leaving a motorway on their way home from church, an inquest has heard.
Alfie Aiello-Da Cruz suffered fatal injuries when the red Nissan Qashqai he was in crashed into a verge and rolled over near Winchester in Hampshire on the evening of Boxing Day, 2021.
The schoolboy had been with his family making an 18-mile journey from Basingstoke to their home in Fair Oak when the incident took place.
An inquest at Winchester Coroners’ Court heard there had been foggy conditions when the car, which was being driven by Alfie’s father, hit the roadside barrier at Junction 11 of the M3 after a ‘late manoeuvre’.
Alfie, who was in the backseat and wearing a seatbelt, was ‘ejected’ through a window, dying instantly after suffering a blow to his head, a coroner concluded.
Alfie Aiello-Da Cruz died after his family’s red Nissan Qashqai smashed into a crash barrier as they were travelling back home on Boxing Day
The family were driving southbound on the M3 when they crashed into the barrier on the slip road at junction 11
The youngster was sitting in the backseat of the car and was travelling with his mother Anna Aiello, father Marco Da Cruz and younger sister Chloe Aiello Da Cruz when the accident happened.
Mr Da Cruz suffered serious injuries in the crash, while Ms Aiello and Chloe were left with minor injuries, according to police at the time[2].
Police crash investigator PC Robert Giles told the hearing: ‘The Nissan Qashqai, driven by Mr Da Cruz, went along the mouth of the exit slipway and into the grass verge.
‘The car was launched into the air after hitting the verge.
‘Alfie was partially ejected from the vehicle as it rolled.’
The inquest heard that Mr Da Cruz cannot remember the accident.
However, the the court heard that a late manoeuvre and poor road conditions led to the fatal accident.
The inquest heard there was intermittent fog which may have had an effect on driving conditions.
PC Giles said: ‘Fog was likely to distorted Mr Cruz’ distance perception.
‘The fog was not sufficiently thick to obscure the road signs, but it is likely that it made the junction seem further away.
‘No defects were identified in the vehicle.’
He said the crash was likely caused by a ‘late manoeuvre into the grass’.
Area Coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp told the court: ‘Distance and time could have been impacted by the patchy fog.
‘The car has hit the grass first, then impacted the barrier which has caused the car to roll. Alfie was on the outside of the car when it rolled.’
An inquest at Winchester Coroners Court (pictured) concluded that Alfie died instantly after suffering a fatal blow to the head
He was taken to hospital but was unfortunately pronounced dead that night.
Mrs Rhodes-Kemp told Alfie’s father that the death was quick because of the nature of the injury his son had suffered.
She said: ‘Alfie’s suffering would have been limited because he would have died immediately.
‘It is a tragic accident that occurred here and resulted in Alfie’s death.’
Alfies devastated parents both attended the inquest.
The coroner said: ‘The psychiatric impact of this on both parents has been catastrophic.’
She concluded Alfie had died due to a road traffic collision.
Speaking about the accident in 2021, the family said: ‘Our beloved Alfie. We were so lucky to have you in our lives, giving us brightness, joy, love and happiness.
‘Now that you have been taken away from us so suddenly and at such a young age, just 11 years-old, we are going to miss you forever.
‘We will carry in our hearts your love for all of our lives, until our last breath, and we hope that one day we will meet in God’s heaven to give you the last hug that we wished to have given to you before you left.
‘We love you and always will. Anna, Marcos and Chloe.’
References
- ^ Matthew Lodge (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ according to police at the time (www.dailymail.co.uk)