1:44PM, Mon Jul 23, 2012

Boy Killed In Steam Roller Accident At Beamish Named By Police As Son Of Driver

By Neal Walker and Hugh Macknight Location: County Durham

VIDEO: Joe Daunt is at Beamish as the boy's identity is released

A seven-year-old boy who died after falling from a steam roller at Beamish Museum has been named as Karl Doran from Darlington.

Police have also confirmed that the vehicle was being driven by Karl’s father, 41-year-old Phillip Doran, a regular volunteer at the museum.

A post-mortem examination confirmed the child suffered fatal head injuries. North East Ambulance Service said he died at the scene.

It is understood the boy was riding on the steam roller which was being driven along a road adjacent to the railway line in the museum when he fell and was hit by the vehicle's trailer.

Mr Doran was taken to hospital suffering from shock immediately after the incident but has since been able to speak to officers.

The incident was reported just before 3pm on Sunday July 22. The whole site was evacuated but reopened on Monday July 23 at 10am.

A joint investigation is being carried out by Durham Police and the Health and Safety Executive.

DCI Victoria Fuller, who is leading the joint investigation, said today: “We are treating this as a tragic incident and are working with our colleagues in the Health and Safety Executive to establish the exact circumstances.

“We have already spoken to a number of witnesses but need to speak to some key people who may have been on a bus or tram which passed the traction engine around the time of the incident which occurred at around 3pm.”

Karl and his father, both steam enthusiasts, were frequent volunteers at Beamish.

Richard Evans, the museum director, said today: “We continue to support the joint investigation and offer our deep condolences to Karl’s family.”

Beamish is an open air museum depicting Victorian life which features several painstakingly restored vintage trams, traction engines and steam engines.

Police are asking any witnesses to call 101 and ask for the Priority Dispatch Centre.