A postmortem for the four-year-old Mpumalanga boy who died after a tractor's trailer crushed his head is expected to be conducted today.a

Nkosinathi Khumalo was playing with friends when he allegedly boasted that he could easily pass between the moving tractor and its trailer.

According to police, Khumalo indeed tried the stunt and was crushed.

The incident, which happened in Piet Retief on Monday, has shattered the community.

"Parents should teach their children about the dangers of playing tricks on the road," said police spokesman Superintendent Abie Khoabane yesterday.

" Imagine a boy of four trying to pass between a moving tractor and its trailer! He could still be alive if he was aware of such dangers."

The boy tripped and fell between the tractor and its trailer, resulting in the trailer's wheel crushing him to death on the spot.

Police have opened a culpable homicide case against the driver of the tractor.

"We are aware that his head was crushed by the trailer, but it is standard procedure to conduct a postmortem to establish the exact cause of death," Khoabane said. - Riot Hlatshwayo