Education / Safety First: Dicky needn't have died
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.EIGHT weeks after the death of her grandson, Debbie Jones still finds it hard to talk about him or the horrific accident in which he died, writes Fran Abrams. None the less, Mrs Jones is talking - to almost anyone who will listen. She is campaigning for changes in the law which, she hopes, will put an end to deaths such as that of six-year-old Dicky.
One foggy morning in March, the minibus that was taking Dicky, who had speech problems, to Alderman Knight Special School in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, was involved in a head-on collision with a pick-up truck. Though the front seats of the minibus had seat belts, those in the rear did not. Eight of Dicky's fellow pupils were injured, four seriously. Dicky was certified dead at the scene.
'I definitely think that seat belts would have made a difference in this case,' says Mrs Jones. 'There still has to be an inquest, but I do not think Dicky would have died if belts had been fitted in the bus.'
Mrs Jones's son, daughter- in-law and their three remaining children have had to move house because they could not bear to see a minibus continuing to pick up other children each day.
(Photographs omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments