THE FAMILY of a boy killed on the way home from school have described the months since his death as hell.

Kerry Lawrence, 40, whose son Zack Lang died after he was hit by a car in March, said: “We will never get to see him grow.”

The 12-year-old was two minutes from home when he was knocked down by a car on Hill Rise, Chippenham, shortly after 9.30am on Tuesday, March 19. Earlier that day he had been sent home from Sheldon School after refusing to wear PE kit.

Yesterday, an inquest heard driver Leah Niblett would not have had enough time to prevent the fatal collision after Zack cycled off the pavement and into the path of the oncoming car.

David Ridley, senior coroner for Wiltshire, concluded the boy’s death was the result of a road traffic collision.

Cycling on the pavement of Hill Rise wearing his hood up and his headphones in his ears, Zack was more than likely unaware of the approaching car when he crossed into the road, coroner Mr Ridley concluded.

Driver Leah Niblett, on her way home from dropping young relatives off at nursery, told police she had applied her brakes but was unable to prevent the crash – describing Zack shooting out in front of her.

PC Gemma Carman, a crash investigator, said black box data showed the Peugeot had been travelling at around 23mph.

She estimated Ms Niblett would have had around 17 metres between the time she may have spotted Zack and the point at which her car struck his bicycle. Even at her slow speed the stopping distance would have been around 21 metres

Zack was taken to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children but died the following day.

Mr Ridley told Zack’s mother and aunt what had happened was tragic and awful: “I can’t hope to understand how you and the rest of the family must feel.”