No one was wearing seatbelts in M53 school bus crash that killed pupil Jessica Baker, 15, and driver Stephen Shrimpton, coroner reveals

By Eirian Jane Prosser[1]

Published: 09:56, 19 October 2023 | Updated: 09:56, 19 October 2023

No one was wearing seatbelts during the M53 school bus crash that killed 15-year-old schoolgirl Jessica Baker and driver Stephen Shrimpton, a coroner has revealed.

The teenager had been thrown from the vehicle and crushed underneath it when it veered off the carriageway, struck a tree and rolled down into an embankment.

Now CCTV footage obtained by the coroner revealed that Jessica, along with more than 50 other pupils on board, had been wearing a seatbelt.

Driver Stephen Shrimpton, 40, had also not been wearing a seatbelt and died in the crash on September 29.

The school children were being driven from Chester to West Kirby Grammar School in the Wirral. Four others were taken to hospital including a 14-year-old boy who suffered life changing injuries.

No one was wearing seatbelts during the M53 school bus crash that killed 15-year-old schoolgirl Jessica Baker and driver Stephen Shrimpton, a coroner has revealed

Jessica Baker (pictured), who attended West Kirby Grammar School, died when the coach she was on crashed in Hooton, Cheshire

Stephen Shrimpton, 40, who’s believed to have suffered a medical episode at the wheel, died after the bus he was driving mounted the embankment between Junction 5 and 4 of the M56, in Eastham, Wirral, and overturned

Opening the investigation, Senior Coroner for Liverpool and Wirral Andre Rebello said he had written to Transport Secretary Mark Harper[2] and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan[3] over the issue of pupils not wearing seatbelts on coaches.

He warned that if the problem is not fixed, more deaths could occur in the future.

‘This was a school commuter coach travelling on a motorway,’ he wrote. ‘It was constructed after 2001 and will have had seat belts fitted.

‘Review of CCTV does not show the seatbelts were being used. This coach had secondary school children on board.

Some of the pupils those below 14 years of age would be expected to wear seatbelts under driver supervision.

‘The driver did not appear to be wearing a seat belt.

‘A distinction should be drawn between school buses in built-up areas and school commuter coaches travelling a distance using A roads and the motorway network – with regard to the availability and use of seatbelts.

‘I take judicial notice that using seat belts can prevent some injury altogether, make inevitable injury less serve and reduce the risk of fatal injury.’

Mr Rebello asked the two ministers what advice government gives schools and colleges handing out school bus commuter contracts about the use of seatbelts, and what public information campaigns are being run about how using seatbelts improves safety.

Emergency services were called on Friday after reports of an overturned coach on the northbound M53 near to junction 5 at Hooton, Cheshire

A close-up photo of the stricken bus on the side of the M53 motorway on Friday

Asking for a response by November 30, he concludes: ‘In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you (and/or your organisation) have the power to take such action.

‘Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed.’

Earlier this week Jessica’s heartbroken family to the schoolgirl, who they cherished as a ‘warm hearted wonderful daughter, granddaughter and niece, devoted sister and loyal friend’.

Her family thanked members of the public for their kindness and said: ‘Jessica was a talented and dedicated climber who competed over the last seven years of her life across the UK representing both the North West and Wales.

‘Jessica loved all sports and chose GCSE PE as one of her options, but her overriding passion was for both indoor and outdoor climbing.

‘Despite being a teenager, Jessica was able to communicate with everyone she came into contact with regardless of their age. She was often seen offering support to fellow climbers on how to achieve a problem/route they were trying to complete.

Jessica’s family added: ‘Her untimely death has led to a massive void in our lives that will never be filled’

Jessica was described as a talented climber who was looking to pursue a career in sport

Jessica Baker, 15, was killed in the road traffic collision near junction 5 of the M53 in Wirral, Merseyside, on September 29.

‘Jessica was planning to explore a career in sport in some way and was due to begin her coaching qualifications later this year towards this goal.’

An online ‘MuchLoved’ page has also been set up to allow friends and family to share memories of Jessica.

Donations in her memory can also be made to ‘Climbers Against Cancer’, a charity that was close to her heart.

Jessica’s family added: ‘Her untimely death has led to a massive void in our lives that will never be filled.

‘She will be missed by many from not only school but also the climbing community across the country.’

Her school also paid tribute, saying she was ‘unequivocally kind and empathetic… a dedicated friend who was a well-liked and respected member of our school community’.

As part of his Prevention of Future Death Report, Mr Rebello described the crash in detail.

‘Jessica was a 15 year old pupil who was a passenger travelling on the school coach from her home address in Chester to West Kirby Grammar School when the bus was involved in a one vehicle road traffic collision,’ he wrote.

Stephen Shrimpton, 40, (pictured) was driving the coach of more than 50 students when it crashed and flipped onto its side

‘Jessica and the coach driver died in the incident.

There were over 50 students on board.

‘At approximately 08:03 hours a road traffic collision involving this bus has taken place on the northbound carriageway of the M53 motorway between junctions 5 and 4.

This is in the Eastham area of Wirral, Merseyside.’

He explained how the coach had been travelling in the central lane of the motorway with another vehicle passing on its nearside.

The coach continued to go into the first lane, but veered towards the hard shoulder before leaving the carriageway altogether, falling into the embankment and overgrowth, he wrote.

Mr Rebello added: ‘It has continued forwards and up the embankment before striking a large tree which has then resulted in the vehicle lurching to its right before barrel-rolling down the embankment and back onto the carriageway coming to rest predominantly in the hard shoulder.

‘CCTV from within coach shows that prior to the collision, the driver slumps/falls to his left hand side prior to the vehicle leaving the motorway and the collision occurring.

‘During the course of the vehicle rolling down the embankment, a passenger on the coach, Jessica Evie Baker, was partially ejected from the vehicle and became trapped underneath it.’

Jessica and Mr Shrimpton, both born in Chester, were both pronounced dead at the scene.

A police investigation into the incident is underway which the coroner’s court will review next March, Mr Rebello said.

Gillian KeeganMark Harper[4][5]

References

1. ^ Eirian Jane Prosser (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Mark Harper (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ Gillian Keegan (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ Gillian Keegan (www.dailymail.co.uk)
5. ^ Mark Harper (www.dailymail.co.uk)