The delivery driver arrested over the death of a three-year-old girl has told police he was driving "very slowly" when his van struck the girl's buggy.
The inquest opened this morning into the death of Olivia Langley, 3, who died on Monday morning when her buggy was hit by a van in the road outside her home in Woburn Court, Croydon.
Detective Sergeant Matt Austin, of the Catford road investigation unit, told Croydon Coroner's Court the van driver had told police he was reversing his vehicle at the time.
DS Austin said: "[He said] He was very familiar with the area and with that particular block because he makes deliveries there quite regularly, and he says he was driving very slowly, partly due to the fact that the road is poorly maintained.
"He told us he was in the process of reversing his vehicle when he felt some form of a bump or touch and that is when he immediately stopped and got out of the driver's seat.
"That is when Olivia's mother has picked her up from the roadside and then taken her straight into the hallway of her property."
DS Austin added police have not been able to interview Olivia's mother, Louise Uffindell, as she was too upset.
Ms Uffindell's mother, however, had told police that Olivia was placed in her buggy by her mother, who then went back into the kitchen to get something from the worktop.
DS Austin said: "As she has turned back round to go out, the buggy has been blown by the wind into the road and then she has come into contact with a white Mercedes delivery van that was delivering parcels."
Olivia died of severe traumatic head injuries, coroner Dr Roy Palmer said.
Her body will not be released back to her family yet as the van driver's solicitors have asked for a second autopsy.
The van driver stayed at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving. He was subsequently bailed.
See tomorrow's Advertiser for an interview with Olivia's father.
