Cleared, tot-death driver forced to flee mob

Mike Keegan

February 08, 2010

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Harley Huetson

A driver who fled an angry mob after an accident that killed a young boy has been cleared of blame.

He was confronted by up to 10 furious onlookers as neighbours fought to save three-year-old Harley Huetson on Hackle Street, Clayton.

Fearing for his safety, he ran away and flagged down a car that took him to a police station.

The unnamed man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and bailed.

But the M.E.N can reveal that he has now been cleared and the case has been passed to the coroner.

It is thought that the driver stopped his Vauxhall Astra estate after it struck Harley, who was playing in the road on his scooter one day last August. But as attempts were being made to resuscitate the toddler some people turned on the driver.

They hurled abuse and the windows of his car were smashed.

Harley was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary where he died.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “A 45-year-old man arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving has been released from bail without charge. The case has now been passed to the coroner.”

After the accident, Harley’s parents, Tony and Nui, spoke of their loss. They said: “Words cannot describe how much our son Harley will be missed.”

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Rob Wilson (08/02/2010 at 11:56)

Erm, a 3 year old playing on the road?????

Savage Mandarin, Manchester (08/02/2010 at 12:28)

"up to 10 furious onlookers....."
....will no doubt now wish to use this forum to offer apologies for their mob-like behaviour towards this un-named driver.

Or will they?

Laura Norder, Didsbury (08/02/2010 at 12:43)

Right, I've got the petrol-soaked torches, matches and the rope. Ace, got your birch handy? Now, let's get 'popped up' on 'vino collapso' and get the mob together...

And then let's set about some paediatricians...

PW, Manchester (08/02/2010 at 13:03)

And then let's set about some paediatricians...

Good idea Laura Norder. They're the scum of the earth. Just hearing their name makes my blood boil over.

Stevedore, Quayside (08/02/2010 at 13:36)

PW, Manchester

And then let's set about some paediatricians...

Good idea Laura Norder. They're the scum of the earth. Just hearing their name makes my blood boil over.

WHAT! paediatrician does not mean paedophile.

Ted Maul reports, wythenshawe (08/02/2010 at 13:45)

I wouldnt let my three year old in the front garden on his own,let alone play on the road on a scooter!

Penny Lane, Manchester (08/02/2010 at 13:45)

Mmm my thoughts exactly. Very sad but a 3 year old playing on the street on a scooter!!! Beggers believe. Where were the parents. Cars a danger but what about other dangers?

Laura Norder, Didsbury (08/02/2010 at 13:54)

Looks like PW has hooked one, despite the bait being so unappealing.

C'mon Stevedore, I know it's Monday, but get with it.

Panzer 391, Salford (08/02/2010 at 15:00)

Nothing lower than a paediatrician, on another note look how fast some of these women fly along the streets of our council estates, they're the first to go all bonker like this crew if somebody runs over a child that shouldnt be on the road in the first place.

The Frontzeck, cornwall (08/02/2010 at 15:23)

Buck up stevedore!

Bertie McGrew , Northern Countryside (08/02/2010 at 15:24)

This morning, driving at around 25-30mph down Rochdale Road towards Manchester, through Harpurhey, some young lad in a hooded jacket suddenly, and without any warning, runs infront of me into the road. Luckily I manage to brake in time to avoid hitting him. But what he was thinking I've no idea - the road was fairly dry, it was cold, it was fairly light at 8.00am - no idea! - But what would I have gone through if I had hit him, and possibly killed him. If it hadn't have been rush hour and busy and I had been travelling at 30mph he would not have been here now.

What do we teach kids these days about road safety? Nothing apparently, judging from this story and my own experience.

And I would have been hung from the nearest lampost as another "4x4 driver", guilty without trial!

want to leave, Stretford (08/02/2010 at 16:00)

A paediatrician is a Doctor who specialises in treating Children's illnesses in case any one doesn't know (unlike that mob in Plymouth a few years ago).

Panzer 391, Salford (08/02/2010 at 16:12)

@ want to leave Stretford Hey thanks for the heads up I feel all silly now.

PW, Manchester (08/02/2010 at 16:22)

Want to leave, I wish you'd told me before. I'd better go and pay to have those windows fixed now.

Viz letter: As Jennifer Lopez has gone trendy by shortening her stage name to J Lo, why doesn't Pete Doherty do the same?

Jay B, oldham (08/02/2010 at 17:00)

why arent the mob being hunted down and arrested for criminal damage?

The Higher Openshaw Exile, MANCHESTER (08/02/2010 at 17:19)

Jay B oldham
because there's 200 'Top Cops' on an £100,000 away day listening to Silly Stories...........

My comment about the GMP story didn't get past the censor.

Tameside girl, Ashton (08/02/2010 at 20:09)

Come on, a bit of respect a child died here,the parents and the driver will all have to live with this.

mandy eastham (08/02/2010 at 21:15)

3 year old- exactly

so when u see a child on the road do you keep driving????
No I think not- and if the driver didn't see then why is he not at fault???
if I was he, I would sure hold my hands up because a three year old does not know how to judge a car and its speed, but for what reason does the 45yr old driver have???

Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (08/02/2010 at 21:55)

Bertie McGrew: I had words with a scrote riding his bike along the centre of the road this morning without his hands on the handlebars. I said "what if you lost balance and I'd hit you" he said "but you didn't, did you". I replied, "I could go round the block and try again though", the cheeky little sod.

Bemused of Tameside., Dukinfield (08/02/2010 at 22:52)

Poor driver.
Thugs should be traced.
Stupid parents.

lynda huetson (09/02/2010 at 00:03)

Ermm where on earth did the scooter story come from let us try and get the story straight please l huetson 08/02/2010

Darren, Rochdale, Rochdale (09/02/2010 at 00:04)

Right 1st off, it's time the MEN got its facts right! Whats all this about Harley being on the street on a scooter? FACT He was NOT on a scooter, a mob of 10? There was no mob! I will tell you you damaged the drivers car, it was Harleys dad Tony who has never made any secret of the FACT. What people need to remember here is the FACT a 3 year old child died. How would YOU feel if your child was killed and the driver got off scott free? Well that's what's happened here FACT. These papers make me sick mis-reporting stories. Are the family not suffering enough? Tony, Nui are NOT bad parents, in FACT the complete opposite is true and it does my head in when people comment when they don't know all the facts. As far as I am concerned the driver should be charged at the end of the day Harley is dead! and yes I am a very close family friend and saw how much the entire family suffered then and are still sufferening now. And I'll tell you something else according to all the tv ads if your hit by a car at 40mpg there is an 80% chance you will die, but if your hit at 30mph there is an 80% chance you will live, need I say anything more? No, SO BACK OFF!!

Stickman, Bury (09/02/2010 at 02:33)

this shows what kind of people we are dealing with these days when they would rather trash the drivers car and attack him rather than help the poor 3 year old lad.

MisterG, Bolton (09/02/2010 at 08:22)

3 year old playing in the road... driver no chance to react.... why should he be charged if he has done nothing wrong?? If there was evidence of driving without due care or even dangerously then he would of been done wouldn't he?? FACT !!!!!!!!!!!

Hands of Stone, Southside, Manchester, England, GREAT BRITAIN (09/02/2010 at 09:31)

Stickman - you are living in a politically correct fantasy land mate: if someone knocked my little boy over, I would of ****ing leathered him and probably killed him.

As for the rest of you using this story to crack distastful jokes about paeodo's etc - shame on you, you make me feel ashamed that you are actually from Manchester. I never ever want to end up like those morkish scouse sympathy mouring addicted scousers, but a little bit of sensitivity and respect hey people?

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