Boy hit by car after smoking drug

A 12-year-old boy was killed crossing a busy road after smoking cannabis with friends, an inquest heard.

Pearce Randle, of Alvaston, in Derbyshire, died after being hit by a car as he tried to cross the Alvaston bypass on Friday, 7 May.

He and his friends had been returning from Elvaston Castle, where they had been playing tag and smoking cannabis, Derby Coroner's Court heard.

South Derbyshire Coroner Peter Ashworth returned a verdict of accidental death.

The boys had became bored and decided to continue the game on a housing estate on the opposite side of the dual carriageway, the inquest heard.

Horn sounded

The group agreed that the last one back would be picked to do the catching and decided to cross the road instead of using a footbridge.

Pearce, who attended Noel-Baker Community School, was towards the back of the group when he was in collision with a Renault Megane as he tried to cross the road between Raynesway and the A50.

The car's driver, Dawn Birks, of Alvaston, said she had not seen him until after the collision.

She told the court she had seen two children crossing towards the central reservation and sounded her horn to warn them.

Derbyshire Royal Infirmary consultant pathologist Dr Andrew Hitchcock, who carried out the post-mortem examination, told the inquest that Pearce had probably been under the effects of cannabis at the time of his death.

The drug would have impaired his ability to react in an emergency situation, such as avoiding contact with a moving vehicle, he said.