A BUS driver “had health problems behind the wheel” when his bus crashed and killed him and a 15-year-old schoolgirl, his family has claimed.
A bus carrying pupils from Calday Grammar School and West Kirby Grammar School for Girls overturned on the M53 on Friday morning.
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Stephen Shrimpton was killed when the bus he was driving overturned
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Schoolgirl Jessica Baker was also killedCredit: PA
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The bus overturned this morning at 8 o’clock Credit: PA
Schoolgirl Jessica Baker, 15, died in horror and a 14-year-old boy suffered life-changing injuries.
The bus driver was named by his family as dad-of-two Stephen Shrimpton.
In a GoFundMe appeal, his sister-in-law said he “had health problems behind the wheel.”
She wrote: “I am raising some money for my brother-in-law’s funeral.
“He was tragically killed in a crash on the M53 on the morning of September 29, after suffering health problems at the wheel while driving pupils to school.
“Unfortunately, he left behind my sister who is now a widow in her early thirties, and unfortunately a single mother with her beloved two small children who are only 8 and 4 years old, and who will grow up without their beloved father.
“Any donations for this unexpected circumstance would be greatly appreciated to give Stephen the funeral he deserves.”
Merseyside Police said: “Jessica Baker has sadly died as a result of a collision on the M53 northbound.
“Jessica’s family have asked that their privacy be respected at this time and any updates will be released through Merseyside Police as appropriate.”
The accident happened just after 8am near Birkenhead, Merseyside, with the bus overturned on its side after colliding with a car.
Witnesses report seeing school children fleeing from the shattered rear window of the bus, while their traumatized friends traveling on the other bus watched in horror.
A paramedic who rushed to the scene said one girl, who was crying afterwards, said the accident was “very scary” and claimed: “I thought I was going to die”.
He told MailOnline: “She was crying. She was in shock and said it was horrible and very scary. I think some of the older kids helped her.
– She said she thought she was going to die on the bus.
He added: “The bus was in chaos. The children were in shock. It will take them a long time to understand what they saw.”
Shocking photos show broken glass, debris and school bags strewn across the wreckage of the bus.
Earlier in the afternoon, police officers discovered that two people had died – a schoolgirl and a bus driver.
A boy (14) suffered life-changing injuries in a terrible accident.
Merseyside Police said: “We understand there were 54 people [on the bus] including the driver, unfortunately I can confirm that the driver and the student were killed.”
Police said four people were taken to hospital – two to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and two to Arrowe Park Hospital – including a 14-year-old boy who was injured.
The remaining 52 attended an emergency training center, where 39 were discharged without further treatment and 13 were treated for minor injuries and then released.
The families of both victims are offered professional help.
Trauma support is also being organized for the students, as well as for the children from both schools in the other buses traveling in the convoy, who witnessed the horror.
At a press conference, Chief Superintendent Graeme Robson added: “We also know that other children from both schools were on buses traveling in convoy with the bus involved in the incident and witnessed the incident and will also be receiving specialist trauma support .
“The highway is expected to be closed for a few hours while the investigation continues, and we thank motorists for their patience while the investigation continues.”
HORROR KRAS
It comes after North West Ambulance Service declared a major incident yesterday.
A statement said: “North West Ambulance Service has declared a major incident following a road traffic collision between a bus and a car on the M53 northbound at around 8.30am this morning.
“The trust sent a large number of resources to the scene, including ambulances, EMS, our hazardous area response team and a HEMS doctor.”
Calday Grammar School said: “We are actively gathering details and assisting affected pupils and their families.
“If you need to talk or seek guidance, please contact our teaching and pastoral teams.”
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital also declared a major incident and said it was treating a “number” of injured people.
The hospital said it was “extremely busy” following the M53 crash.
A spokesman said they would only “ask parents to bring their children to the Department only if it is an emergency”.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Wirral Hospital said: “We have clear plans to deal with emergencies like this and our services are ready to receive any casualties. The trust has declared a major incident and the major incident team has been deployed to manage the situation.”
dr. Nikki Stevenson, Medical Director of Wirral University Teaching Hospital, said: “Our thoughts are with those affected by this event and we are ready to provide treatment and support to all victims and relatives who arrive at Arrowe Park Hospital.
“Our staff are professionally trained and prepared for such events, and we have established a major incident team to coordinate and manage the emergency response.”
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