A TEENAGE driver charged following the death of a baby boy at a Runcorn travellers’ site has been cleared of all blame in court today.

Douglas Doherty, aged 19, of Rilshaw Lane, Winsford, appeared at Runcorn Magistrates Court charged with causing death by driving while uninsured.

The charge has been dropped after a review of the evidence revealed he could not have seen the one-year-old child when his van was involved in a collision at around 6.24pm on September 2, 2014 at the transit site in Warrington Road.

The boy was taken to Warrington Hospital where he later died.

Richard Riley, senior crown prosecutor with Mersey-Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service, said: “This case was initially charged by Cheshire Police based on the information available at the time.

“The Crown Prosecution Service has a duty to review all cases that have been charged without reference to them, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

“I have reviewed the circumstances of this tragic case and I have made the decision to discontinue the charge of causing death by driving a vehicle whilst uninsured.

“The evidence does not show that the defendant Douglas Doherty was culpable for the child’s death.

“The one-year-old child was at the far side of the front of the vehicle as Mr Doherty slowly drove forward.

"Sadly, the child was so close to the van that it would have been impossible for Mr Doherty to have seen him before moving off.

“This incident would appear to have been a tragic accident.

“The Code for Crown Prosecutors states that there must be a realistic prospect of a conviction on the charge laid and that test has not been met in this instance.

“Our thoughts remain with the young child’s family at this sad time.”

Doherty was today charged with driving without insurance.

He pleaded guilty and has been disqualified from driving for 12 months.