A grieving grandmother has vowed to do everything she can to prevent other families from ever having to go through the pain of losing a young family member to a road accident after five-year-old Prince died last year.

Witnesses and authorities joined family members today (Tuesday, September 9) at North London Coroner’s Court to hear the inquest of Prince Izaiah Ekow Abban, a Preston Manor School student who tragically died on February 25 last year after colliding with a van in Wembley at the junction of Lakeside Way and Empire Way while coming back from an after-school maths class.

Coroner Andrew Walker confirmed after hearing from police, the driver and passers by on that afternoon, that the cause of death was a road traffic collision with the boy dying hours later at St Mary’s Hospital.

Speaking to getwestlondon outside the court, Prince’s grandmother Akua Boapeah-Abban, who he lived with, said: “My pain is still there, but although I am tearful I am full of thanks to those who investigated, the coroner today and all the staff, and of course the friends, family, the headteacher Matthew Lantos, parents and teachers who gave us so much support, and continue to do so.

A photo of the memorial service for five year old Prince Izaiah ekow Abban at Park Lane Methodist Church in Wembley with his loving grandmother.

“Prince has now been buried in Ghana, and his beautiful memorial garden that we have made reflects the joy he had for life, and continues to be sign to children of the colour and happiness in his character.

“It has been difficult to fight through the pain, but today we have some closure, and I now feel able to do what is right and to campaign with local councillors, families and parents to raise awareness of road safety.

“We just do not want another family to experience our pain, and of course to the driver, my message is: forgive yourself. Forgive yourself and move on because we as a family bear him no grudge.”

The driver of the vehicle, Carl Barriteau, is a courier who was delivering goods to a nearby gym on the day of the incident.

Appearing in the court, he said when recalling the incident: “I got a call from behind me from a man. He was saying ‘stop, stop, you have hit someone’ so I immediately stopped. I got out on the left side of my van and then realised a little boy was on the floor.”

Footage from a nearby shop’s CCTV camera was later analysed by police officers which captured the incident.

Detective inspector of Brent Police Jane Mallett told the court: “A thorough and complete investigation took place of the CCTV and we also interviewed the driver.

“Having done all that, it was my conclusion that the driver could not have seen Prince, and [that there was] no offence on the driver’s part.”

Lerlin Henry, a lodger with the family, was tasked by the family with walking Prince and his sister back from school on the day.

The court was unable to locate him to appear infront of Mr Walker, however, a statement submitted by him to the court read: “I had not stepped out into the road and the next thing I remember was that Prince had, and he wanted to turn back but could not.

“His eyes were open but he was not saying anything.

“I was crying, and his sister was just saying ‘Prince, Prince, Prince’.”

Mrs Boapeah-Abban will now begin work on a foundation in Prince’s name.