Bereaved parents seek road change

Matthew Hobbs was knocked over on his way to school

The parents of an 11-year-old boy who died after being hit by a bus have called for improvements to the road junction where the accident happened.

A coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death over the incident in Prince's Road in Dartford, Kent, in which Matthew Hobbs died.

His mother, Valerie, told BBC South East the junction was "an accident waiting to happen".

But leader of Dartford council, Jeremy Kite, said he believed it was safe.

Mrs Hobbs has said she does not blame the bus driver, Josephine Pollard, for the accident.

Wednesday's inquest heard she had pulled up at a red light at the junction with Darenth Road on the morning of the accident, 9 January.

'Life wasted'

It was not until she pulled away into the bus lane, passing another bus at the junction as the lights changed, that she became aware of someone in front of the vehicle.

"Because of the lack of safety barriers and the way the buses cross at the same time on the very busy junction, the bus driver is quite blind," said Mrs Hobbs.

"It was a case of wrong place, wrong time, and it happened to be our son."

She said she and her husband, Leonard, and their other son, Duncan, were coping with Matthew's death on a day-to-day basis.

"It is very hard. Sometimes you have good days and other days are really difficult but I have got good support at work, which I am very grateful for.

Valerie Hobbs said it was an "accident waiting to happen"

"Now that the inquest is over we can try to encourage Dartford council to improve the junction for pedestrians.

"If something is not done then Matthew's life is wasted."

Mr Kite said he had got to know the Hobbs family since Matthew died and had attended his funeral.

"Matthew was clearly intelligent, witty, funny and compassionate," he said.

"He was one of life's winners and would have been a fantastic contributor to our community."

He said the aftermath of the accident had also been very difficult for the driver and Fastrack was giving her support.

"The junction is designed by the highways office at Kent County Council and Fastrack," he said.

"It was a case of two very large vehicles crossing together - and that must happen tens of thousands of times.

"If Mr and Mrs Hobbs feel there is something that should be done then I am very happy to support them in taking that forward.

"We will certainly do whatever can be done, but I honestly believe it is safe.

"The coroner said there was a series of circumstances which would be replicated at any point on the network."