A teenage boy and his nine-year-old sister died after suffering traumatic head injuries when the e-scooter they were riding was was hit by a car, an inquest heard. Roman Casselden, 16, and sister Darcie Casselden were both declared dead at the scene of the collision in Ashlyns in Pitsea, Essex, on February 1.
![[Undated handout photo issued by Essex Police of 16-year-old Roman Casselden, who died after being hit by a car which failed to stop, alongside his nine-year-old sister Darcie in Ashlyns in Pitsea, Essex, at about 6.25pm on Saturday. Police believe the pair were riding a privately-owned e-scooter at the time of the incident. Essex Police said two people arrested in connection with the incident have been released, with a woman bailed and a man released under investigation. Issue date: Tuesday February 4, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE Pitsea. Photo credit should read: Essex Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SEI_238548477-6fd0.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Essex area coroner Michelle Brown, who opened separate inquests into their deaths in Chelmsford on Wednesday, said the siblings had been ‘travelling on an e-scooter’. She said the e-scooter was ‘involved in a collision with a motor vehicle that was travelling east along Ashlyns approaching Stokefelde’.
![[Tributes have been paid to the two children who died following a collision in Pitsea on Saturday (1 February). Sixteen year-old Roman Casselden will leave a ?legacy is one of selflessness, compassion, and an unwavering belief in the goodness of people?. His nine year-old sister Darcie is described as ?a wonderful individual who brought joy and inspiration to those lucky enough to know her.? Roman and Darcie, who Essex Police are now in a position to name, died following the incident in Ashlyns at around 6.25pm.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SEI_238547995-2409.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=506)
The coroner said emergency services attended, and Darcie was pronounced dead at 7.10pm, and Roman at 7.50pm. The coroner gave the provisional cause of death for each child as ‘traumatic head injury pending further investigation’. She said that formal identification was undertaken by their mother.
![[Flowers left near to the scene of a collision where two children died in Pitsea, Essex. Picture date: Sunday February 2, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE Pitsea. Photo credit should read: Rosie Shead/PA Wire]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SEI_238296183-49f4.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘Police have advised that the driver of the vehicle was subsequently arrested for various offences,’ the coroner said. She said that police requested that the inquest be suspended ‘pending police investigation and possible prosecution’. Ms Brown suspended proceedings in both inquests and said the position would be reviewed in four months.
She added: ‘I would just like to extend my personal sympathy.’. Ms Brown said Roman and Darcie were ‘very young’ and the case had ‘very tragic circumstances’. The children’s mother Emma said, in a statement released through police, that ‘their love, kindness, and spirit live on in the hearts of all who knew them’.
Essex Police said two people arrested in connection with the incident have been released, with a woman bailed and a man released under investigation. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.
Arrow MORE: Say goodbye to dust and dirt fast with Ryobi Cordless Stick Vacuum (plus save over £150 plus extra £20). Arrow MORE: Woman in court charged with killing girl, 5, by ‘forcing her into scalding bath’. Arrow MORE: Daniel Dubois can knockout Joseph Parker to retain IBF heavyweight title and light up a huge night of rumbles in Riyadh.
