Toddler Killed in Tragic Driveway Accident

A devastating incident resulted in the death of two-year-old Rufus Davies last May in Marlborough, Wiltshire. Rufus was visiting family friends when he ran behind a car driven by a family friend, Tasmin Haward, and sustained fatal head injuries.

His mother, Olivia Davies, stated Rufus was "so excited to see her" and wriggled out of her car to greet Ms. Haward. While Mrs. Davies was momentarily distracted, Rufus ran behind the reversing vehicle.

Mrs. Haward, driving her Porsche Macan, reversed slowly onto the driveway. She reported feeling a bump and discovering Rufus on the gravel, realizing he must have been running behind her car. She immediately called emergency services and attempted CPR.

Police investigators found no vehicle faults and confirmed Mrs. Haward tested negative for drugs and alcohol. The Crown Prosecution Service determined that no prosecution could be brought under the Road Traffic Act as the driveway is not a public place, and the driving was not considered careless.

The area coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, Ian Singleton, recorded a conclusion of misadventure. He noted a blind spot in the car's visibility, where a child of Rufus's height would not be visible to the driver. Mr. Singleton extended his sincere condolences to the family.