Child injured after being panicked by traffic after Exmouth carnival procession

A FATHER, whose daughter was injured at this year’s Exmouth Carnival, has called for added safety measures next year.

Tim Hammond, 29, who lives in Manstone Avenue, Sidmouth, says he and his family had watched the end of the procession from outside Exmouth Amusements.

As soon as the last float had passed, they started to cross Imperial Road towards the Strand pub, but were shocked to see traffic immediately bearing down on them.

He says the approaching cars caused his partner Kathy’s daughter, Naomi Osborne, seven, to panic, fall over, and injure her mouth, having to be treated by a private ambulance crew at the scene.

Mr Hammond said: “My daughter’s tooth went through her lip, but she’s fine now. What worries me is the potential for what could have happened. If she was a couple of years younger a car might have hit her.

“The traffic came immediately behind the procession. None of us was expecting it to be tearing along as soon as the procession finished.”

“I spoke to the police, and they agreed there should have been some pause in the traffic after the last float had gone through.”

In response, the carnival committee has said that the only enforceable road closure in place for the parade was on Marine Way, so they had no power to stop traffic driving through.

Carnival secretary and treasurer Justine Payton said: “We have apologised to Mr Hammond as it’s a regrettable incident, but it’s not for us to accept responsibility for it.

“As far as we are concerned the carnival was officially over, and we didn’t think the road closures were lifted too early.”

The carnival committee may consider additional road closures once the date for next year’s event is confirmed.

Mr Hammond, who works in Woolbrook News, said he, his partner and children got to Exmouth as well as Sidmouth carnival so he can take his son who lives in Budleigh Salterton.