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Boy, 9, killed ‘instantly’ when 4×4 driven by dad flips as it plummets down 30ft hill on off-road course, inquest hears

The Land Rover stalled as it hit an incline

A SCHOOLBOY died "instantly" after a 4x4 being driven by his dad plummeted 30ft down a hill on an off-road course, an inquest heard.

Jake Allen was killed in the horror crash when he was ejected from the Land Rover Discovery, which then crushed him.

Jake Allen, who sadly died following a collision at Coney Green Farm
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Jake Allen, who sadly died following a collision at Coney Green FarmCredit: SWNS
The vehicle overturned at off-road course
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The vehicle overturned at off-road courseCredit: SWNS

The schoolboy suffered "extreme head injuries" after his dad Simon lost control of the vehicle at Coney Green Farm 4X4 Offroad Site in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire.

An inquest heard how the modified Land Rover stalled as Simon negotiated a steep incline - before it rolled backwards, hit a tree stump and flipped three or four times.

Mr Allen wept as he told Worcestershire Coroner's Court how he watched his son die during the weekend off-roading holiday he had helped organise.

He said he had been staying at Coney Green Farm with his partner Tuesday Hawkes, her daughter and his other daughter, Jake's sister.

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The group went for a drive but ran into trouble on the off-road circuit when they attempted to navigate an incline of more than 30 per cent.

Recalling the crash on September 24, 2022, Mr Allen said: "It's quite a smooth hill.

"I've gone up it many times. I've done many off-road experiences.

"We set off up the hill at a comfortable place. We got to a point where we broke traction, the wheels started to spin.

"The front of the car started to tilt. I came off the accelerator and the car stalled.

Mr Allen added: "The front of the vehicle started to lean. It surprised me.

"I restarted the vehicle, put it into reverse and started to turn left to get the front end back up the hill.

"As the vehicle moved backwards it stalled again and that's when it started rolling backwards.

"I tried to restart the vehicle and was pumping the brake pedal but it wouldn't stop and it gained speed.

"I remember hearing a bang and that's what sent the car over. I think it was a tree stump that hit one of the rear wheels.

"I remember that I came out of my seat and hearing the girls screaming.

"I remember seeing Jake's face in the air. I tried grabbing him. I remember him being pulled away from my hand.

"I climbed out the vehicle, through the driver's window or sunroof. I was looking for Jake. He was five or ten metres from the car.

"It was very apparent Jake was dead. I stayed with him, calling his name, hoping he'd answer me."

When asked about driving rules on the course, Mr Allen said they would not exceed 10mph, wear seatbelts and "would not do the more extreme things."

He added: "It's more of a fun thing than a challenge.

"There's the speed limit and you have to wear seatbelts. It's 5mph in camp and then 10mph everywhere else.

"I'd make sure this was happening. It wouldn't be very often that you would get up to 10mph, it would be crawling around in first gear. It's just a relaxed atmosphere.

"Seat belts are to be worn. It's explained every time. At the start of the day when I was signing people in there would be a talk.

"My vehicle was a Land Rover Discovery. I had a 2.5 litre six cylinder BMW engine in it for extra power.

"Mine was lifted for extra clearance. It had an external cage. The backend was shorted for better departure angles."

Home Office pathologist DrAlexander Kolar, who carried out Jake's post mortem, said 'death would've been instantaneous'.

Dr Kolar said: "There are extreme injuries to Jake's head and face with near loss of integrity to his skull. This would corroborate with forceful ejection.

"There were no marks suggesting Jake was wearing a seatbelt.

"Death would've been instantaneous."

Mr Allen's friend Chris Merriman-Powell, who witnessed the accident, told the court how he saw a "body fly out of the driver's side of the truck."

He also said he assumed the seatbelts were working and he wasn't aware of any faults to Mr Allen's vehicle.

Mr Merriman-Powell said: "Simon is amazing at off-roading and is the first to help out.

"I saw Simon drive up an incline, It seemed more slippy than normal to me.

"He got up to a certain part and the truck started spinning. I believed it had cut out on him.

"Then all of a sudden it started coming backwards. I was at the bottom of the hill looking up at his truck.

"I saw his truck roll back about 20 feet. It flipped four and a half times.

"On the third flip I saw a body fly out of the driver's side of the truck. The truck finished rolling over again.

"I said to Sophie to call 999 as one of the children was deceased."

PC Simon Carpenter, a collision investigator with West Mercia Police, said he didn't believe the middle seat belt where Jake was sat had been in use, saying it was found under the seat and 'damaged.

He told the court: "The rear passenger buckle was damaged. The length of that central belt reached across.

"I certainly don't think the centre belt was on due to its location (wedged under the seat)."

He also said the Land Rover had its ABS system disabled, its propshaft wasn't secured, there were several missing bolts and the nearside rear passenger seatbelt was damaged.

Mr Allen's girlfriend, who was also in the vehicle at the time, said she didn't recall seeing Jake or Simon's daughter wearing seatbelts.

She said: "I recall turning around to look in the back of the car, my daughter was behind the driver, Jake in the middle, and Simon's daughter behind me.

"I don't recall seeing them wearing seat belt. We set off into a couple of fields. It was muddy and jolty, but it didn't worry me.

"I think the engine cut out as it went quiet and I felt it roll back.

"We rolled backwards and this time Simon looked out the back of the car and tried to turn it. He had a look of panic on his face.

"I heard crunching, maybe the sound of glass breaking. I was still in the car but lying on my left side.

"I heard Simon's voice shouting Jake's name like he was searching for him.

"Simon was kneeling over Jake, shouting his name over and over. I could see Jake and knew there was nothing to be done to save him.

"I'd only been in the 4x4 car twice that weekend. The car had big oversized wheels and looked like a monster truck.

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"He also told me he'd shortened the bonnet of the car. I don't know if Simon did any health and safety talk."

The inquest continues.

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