Boy, two, killed as car falls on crowded beach

A boy aged two was killed when a car plunged 12 feet from a car park on to a crowded beach.

The boy, pronounced dead in hospital after the incident involving a silver BMW at Yaverland, Isle of Wight, was from Fulham, south-west London and was on holiday with his family.

His father was also taken to St Mary's Hospital, Newport, suffering from leg and pelvic injuries after the accident at around 4.30pm on Saturday. His mother was traumatised but uninjured, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police said.

A 44-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He was also admitted to hospital suffering from shock. At the deserted beach, flowers were laid at the scene of the accident, from which the car had been removed for examination. Although the edge of the car park, near Yaverland Sailing and Boat Club, has a kerb, no barrier prevents a drop on to the beach below.

A member of the club said the beach was packed with sunbathers taking advantage of fine weather. Cran Davies said it appeared the BMW had rolled over the edge of the council-run car park and crashed on to the beach. He said: "It's a very busy beach area. I was down here at 3pm and the car park was absolutely chock-a-block."