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Father’s grief after boy is killed by car while riding his bicycle
Peter Dominiczak06.07.09
The father of a 10-year-old boy knocked off his bicycle and killed by a car spoke today of his devastation.
Christopher Durand was cycling to his uncle's house with his 14-year-old cousin, Lucia, yesterday morning when he was struck by the car in Merrick Road in Southall.
The boy was thrown more than 20 feet along the road by the collision. Police and paramedics attended the scene and the boy was flown by air ambulance to hospital but was pronounced dead.
Christopher's father Francis, 43, told the Standard: “We are all struggling so much. Chris was a lovely, intelligent little boy. He was the joker of the family. He was just wonderful.
“When he was hit by the car, he was on his way to his uncle's house with his cousin. It's a journey he has made so many times.”
Mr Durand said that it was a miracle that his cousin was not also killed by the car. He said: “Lucia is devastated. She blames herself for what happened to Chris. It's so lucky she wasn't hit as well. The car missed her by inches and she had to see her cousin get killed.”
Mr Durand said that Christopher should have been staying at his aunt's house with his brother Dion, eight, and sister Rose, six, when the accident happened.
“Chris was meant to stay over at his aunt's house in Northolt but he wanted to go cycling with his cousin,” he said. “He shouldn't even have been here. He was so close to his cousin and he just loved going out on his bike.”
Mr Durand added that he had warned his son about the dangerous stretch of road.
He said: “I had always warned him about that road and told him to be careful. I always told him to cross the road at the traffic lights but this time he didn't.
“Cars always go so fast along that road. Chris was killed just outside the entrance to a local school. There needs to be something on the road to slow cars down. So many people have made complaints about people speeding on the road.”
Mr Durand said Christopher's mother Josie is struggling after her son's death. He said: “Christopher's mum has taken it very hard. She fainted a few times and is finding it very difficult to cope.”
He added: “So far, Chris's brothers and sisters are coping but they were all incredibly close. It is going to be really difficult for them all.
“It's Dion's birthday this week and I know he will be so sad that his brother will miss it.”
Police said the driver of the car stopped at the scene and is helping with their inquiries.
A spokesman said that no arrests have been made.
Reader views (16)
If you think I don't miss you, well I do I loved you like a brother.
- Olufisayo, England,Middx
christopher my dear,
it is a pity that you should go this way, you were such a lovely boy, my hearth goes out to your family, i still have not told your friend who travelled and have been consistently asking to speak to you, you will be greatly missed, and i pray that our good lord will give your family the hearth to bear this heavy loss, it is hard to say goodbye, go in peace my good boy, and may our good lord continue to look after you.
- Sons Friend, southall
i m sooooooo sory that happened. this teaches a lesson now we shouldn't cross the street without a grown up.
- Wac Vidal, ST.Albans N.Y.
R.I.P CHRIS forever God Bless Ur Family
We will all miss uuuuuuuuuuuuuu
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Simon, southall
I was one of the first few on the scene. My heart goes out to the family and the 13 year old cousin. God bless you ALL and give you the strength you need. RIP Christopher.x
- ., W.London
Gary, you heartless, senseless fool... Have you even read the article.
Not once does it say that Chris was riding to Northolt, he was ment to go there later the day. I know this for I am a close friend of the family. Maybe you've had good fortune all your life and havn't had to deal with loss, maybe you have dealt with it and it has made you ignarant. Either way if it was a relitive of yours that got hit at 50mph, a sibling, a child, (God forbid) I doubt you'd burst through the AandE and ask if he was wearing a helmet... I knew the boy since the age of 4... he was bright, he had a beautiful soul, he was a 10year old who was inspired and had ambition. We hurt, and your pointless, egotistic views only place salt on the wounds...
- Sharad Rai, Greenford
A helmet would have made no difference here, as they're only designed for impacts up to 12mph.
Roads can be dangerous (and yes, often due to irresponsible drivers, though we don't know in this case) but it's still far more dangerous for a child to have a non-active life than for them to ride a bike
It's 20 times more dangerous if you want numbers: the list of illnesses and diseases caused by inactive lifestyles is horrific: heart disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, dementia, the list goes on...
We need safer roads for healthier kids
- Fluffy_Mike, London
Please lets not have a big arguement on the comments section. To pass any kind of judgement on either parties at this stage is offensive. RIP Christopher x
- Tim Anderson, london
I think that it is Incredibly important not to forget this tragedy. A young boy has lost his life & the family have lost someone so dear to them on so many Levels. Allow the family to grieve & come to terms with their loss, before all the blaming & finger pointing.
My thoughts are with the family at this difficult time & I pray they find strength from one another. x
- Mandi, Kent, UK
All get off your soap boxes! an accident if the child crossed the road or not, if the driver did not see the child coming what ever, unfortunately for me i was at the hospital the child was taken to and the devastation i saw of family and friends broken was horrific. Police will investigate and as long as people co-operate the truth will out but as i say either way a dreadful loss for the family and his friends.God bless him and his family.
- Joanne, South Harrow
Smb, says we "shouldn't put blame" on anyone.
Of course we have to put blame! There is an incredible amount of dangerous driving which in this case has resulted in the death of a boy. How can we not put blame on the driver?!
Not putting blame is suggesting the he somehow deserved it for daring to use the road for non-motorised transport.
- Leonard, United Kingdom
Gary that is an incredibly ignorant comment to make. Cycle helmets are not designed for impacts with cars. They are designed for minor falls at speeds less than 12 miles an hour. Therefore whether or not he was wearing one is completely irrelevant in this case.
- Lesley, Hastings, England
Rod, perhaps you should get off your cycling soapbox. The driver stopped at the scene, and for all we know, it may not have been their fault.
This is a terrible terrible accident, and my heart goes out for the family who have lost such a young life...that is the main point here, NOT trying to put blame on either the cyclists or the car drivers.
- Smb, London, UK
Tragic.
Gary, cycle helmets are only good at protecting your head. If you get a body impact from a car doing about 30mph, the helmet is not going to protect your body. The article states he got thrown 20 meters in the air, so I'd assume that the helmet might not of made much difference on this one.
- Dom, London
Gary, amersham
How dare you blame the child for maybe not wearing protective gear! Bike riders are vulnarable and should be protected from idiots. Car drivers should be taught more about the dangers and SLOW DOWN. Why shouldn't bikes be on the road too? If it was your child you would be devastated, so get off the motoring soap box.
- Rod, Epping, UK
what a terrible tragedy. It would be interesting to know if this young lad was wearing a cycle helmet - if not, why not? And 10 seems terribly young to be riding on main roads the 5+miles from Southall to Northolt - this is a dodgy journey in a car - let alone a bike!
- Gary, amersham
