Truck driver cleared of dangerous driving after killing six-year-old girl

Stephen Worden, 61, was cleared of dangerous driving after a trial at Preston Crown Court. He had previously pleaded guilty to causing death and serious injury by careless driving

Rachel Smith Court reporter and Josh Pennington Content editor 20:35, 07 Oct 2025

A lorry driver who tragically killed a six-year-old girl when he veered onto a grass verge next to a stationary bus has been acquitted of dangerous driving.

Millie Gribble sadly lost her life due to injuries sustained after being hit by the lorry driven by Stephen Worden on 15 August 2023.

Millie had just alighted from the bus on the A6 Garstang Road in Bilsborrow, near Preston, for a planned visit to Billy Bob's Diner when the incident occurred.

As he neared the rear of the bus, Worden veered left to avoid colliding with the double-decker, oblivious to the pedestrians who had just disembarked. In the aftermath of the collision, the driver stated that he had loaded the lorry with bricks at his home in Nateby and was en route to the M6 to make a delivery in Cheshire.

He was seven minutes into his journey when he collided with the pedestrians. The vehicle came to a halt after it crashed into a lamp-post.

As a result of the crash, Millie was killed and her friend and the friend's mum suffered serious injuries.

Worden pleaded guilty to causing death and serious injury by careless driving but denied that his driving was significantly below the standard expected of a careful and competent driver - constituting dangerous driving, reports Lancs Live[1].

'We will never forget what is at the heart of this trial'.

After a seven-day trial during which the distressing details of the events of 15 August were revealed, the jury took four hours and 44 minutes to acquit the defendant of the more serious charge.

Expressing his gratitude, Judge Philip Parry stated: "These are some of the hardest cases that come before the criminal courts.

We will never forget what is at the heart of this trial, today and when I come to pass sentence on Stephen Worden."

Stephen Worden, 61, from Catmell Lane, Nateby, has been granted bail but is due back in Preston Crown Court on December 9 for sentencing, following his conviction for causing death and serious injury by careless driving.

References

1. ^ Lancs Live (www.lancs.live)