Harrison Hartley 'was playing chicken'

10:09pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

A TEENAGER who died after being knocked down on the M65 was playing 'chicken', it has been revealed.

And the family of Harrison Hartley, 15, have urged other youngsters to learn from the case, saying: "We don't want anyone else to die in this way".

The details emerged during an inquest into the death of Hameldon Community College pupil Harrison, of Harling Street, Burnley.

Harrison had been playing football with friends in Rosegrove Lane when he scaled a stone wall separating the road from the M65, Burnley Coroner's Court was told.

Pals recalled how he had urged them to play 'chicken', by crossing the carriageway in front of passing traffic, on a dark night in March 2007, the court heard.

Eyewitnesses told the inquest that Harrison, dressed in black, had walked 'nonchalantly' across the eastbound and westbound lanes of the motorway, near the Rosegrove motorway bridge. And he travelled back across the westbound carriageway without incident.

But when he hopped over the central reservation, to cross the eastbound lanes again, he appeared to stumble and was caught a glancing blow by a Volkswagen Polo, driven by Colne motorist Gary Bailey.

Harrison, was taken by ambulance to Burnley General Hospital and later transferred to Pendlebury Children's Hospital. But he died two days later on March 3 from his injuries.

Speaking after the hearing, Harrison's grandmother Mrs Jane Britaine added: "Please listen to what has happened and don't play on the motorway. We don't want anyone else to die in this way."

Harrison's mother Donna Bennet was too upset to attend the hearing.

Sergeant Michelle Waddie, from Lancashire police's motorway unit, said: "Since this tragic incident occurred, we have worked tirelessly in local schools promoting awareness of the dangers of playing on motorways in an effort to discourage children from doing so.

"The tragic death of Harrison Hartley shows how dangerous it can be. "

The inquest was told that when interviewed by police later Harrison's three friends, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told officers that they had tried to persuade him not to cross the motorway.

Neighbour Anne Spencer, of Rosegrove Lane, watched three of the youngsters, including Harrison, walk along the stone boundary wall.

Then she saw a taller boy - later identified as Harrison - crossing the M65.

She said: "I saw him raise his arms, as if to say to the two boys watching 'this is easy'."

Mrs Spencer turned away briefly but looked back to see Harrison lying in the middle of the road. She raced downstairs and called the emergency services.

Motorist Deborah Kenyon, who was travelling eastbound, said: "There was no urgency about him. He was waving his arms and almost calling the traffic on in some respects."

Mr Bailey, who was driving the Polo which struck Harrison, said: "I was just in the outside lane and had gone under the bridge and what looked like a black shape appeared, or what seemed like that, in front of the windscreen. I thought it was a suicide jumper or something like that."

The Polo driver was pulled over onto the hard shoulder as the impact had smashed his windscreen.

At the hearing Harrison's grandmother Jean questioned whether there had been any similar incidents, involving children gaining access to the motorway, in that area.

"We know what happened and we know that he should not have been on the motorway. But that wall should not be so accessible for the motorway.

"We are not trying to apportion any blame. We just want to make it safer for any kids who are playing there. Even if a ball had gone over the wall then there would have been a catastrophe."

Police accident investigator PC Mick Hogan, and the Highways Agency, said they had no records of any other such incidents occurring there.

Highways Agency regional manager Roy Wood said that his department did not have a legal duty to prevent access to the motorway. But it did have discretionary powers to construct boundary walls, to demarcate the edge of the motorway, such as in this case.

Mr Wood said a study was currently being undertaken, following a number of incidents where people had gained access to the motorway network across the north west, and been involved in incidents.

But he said he could not given any guarantees that his review would lead to improvements being made at this particular location.

Mrs Britaine added: East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor said that whatever would have been done to prevent access, if a child was determined enough then they would find a way to overcome any wall.

Mr Taylor recorded a narrative verdict reflecting the events.

He said: "He would not have anticipated that this would have proved fatal and Mr Bailey would never have anticipated that there would have been someone in the road as he drove home that night."

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