A tragic incident unfolded as a two-year-old boy lost his life while sitting in his stroller with his parents following a day out at the beach, according to an inquest. The young child, Sonny Macdonald, was fatally struck by a car just a few minutes away from his home in Whitstable, Kent. The harrowing event occurred around 8.15 pm on August 16 when a driver veered off course, crashing through a metal barrier at Gorrell Tank car park where the family was located.
The toddler tragically passed away at the scene, while his parents were quickly taken to the hospital for treatment. An inquest was initiated at Oakwood House in Maidstone but was temporarily halted due to an ongoing police inquiry.
Subsequent to the incident, law enforcement apprehended a man in his twenties on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He was later released on bail pending further investigation. Floral tributes have been left at the site of the heartbreaking crash, near the bustling seafront.
Coroner Katrina Hepburn detailed the grievous events, stating, “His mother and father witnessed his death, which occurred at approximately 8.24 pm.” The family was on their way back from Whitstable beach with Sonny in a stroller when the vehicle breached a metal barrier, descending around a six-foot drop into the lower car park, resulting in Sonny’s tragic fate.
Canterbury and Whitstable MP Rosie Duffield expressed her shock and sorrow over the distressing incident in Whitstable, extending her sympathies to the bereaved family. She commended the emergency services for their swift response and urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation.
Authorities from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit are now seeking witnesses, particularly bus passengers who were in the vicinity at the time, to come forward. They are also encouraging individuals with CCTV or dashcam footage to share it for investigative purposes. Eyewitnesses recounted the crash as “horrific,” with many onlookers visibly distraught at the scene.