M53 bus crash – latest: Coach driver killed was father of 2 as family say he suffered ‘medical issue’ at wheel
A 14-year-old boy suffered life-changing injuries in yesterday’s crash, which saw other injured children climbing out of windows to safety
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Your support makes all the difference.The bus driver who died in a horror car crash in Merseyside has been named as a father of two whose family claim "suffered medical issues behind the wheel” before the crash.
Stephen Shrimpton, described by his family as a “loving husband and father”, was driving a bus of more than 50 schoolchildren when it hit a reservation on the M53 near Junction 5 and flipped over.
One of the pupils on board, 15-year-old Jessica Baker, was also killed. A boy aged 14 suffered life-changing injuries, while several others were taken to hospital. Four other children were taken to hospital for treatment.
Eyewitnesses have described how injured children climbed through windows of the bus to escape from the wreckage.
The bus had been taking pupils to the all boys Calday Grange Grammar School and the all-girls West Kirby Grammar School when it crashed.
The crash happened just after junction 5, heading towards Liverpool, and closed a junction of the motorway. The road is reopened today.
Have you been affected by this incident? E-mail matt.mathers@independent.co.uk
School bus hit ‘reservation'
The school bus carrying children “struck” a reservation, according to police.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said: “We can confirm that emergency services are on the M53 in Hooton following a collision involving a bus on the motorway.
“Just after 8am we received a report that a bus had struck a reservation on Junction 5 of the M53.”
‘Number of casualties’ reported
Emergency services found a “number of casualties” at the crash site, according to the fire service.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service told The Independent: “Crews were alerted at 8.05am and on scene at 8.16am. Crews arrived at the scene to find an overturned bus with a number of casualties.”
School confirms coach was a school bus
A grammar school has confirmed to The Independent the overturned coach was a school bus carrying its students.
Calday Grange Grammar School wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that it was “aware” of a situation involving one of its school buses on a motorway this morning.
It confirmed to The Independent the incident it was referring to was the one on the M53 reported at around 8am today.
Witness claims children ‘escaped’ from back window
A witness has claimed he saw schoolchildren “escaping from the back window” of the coach.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, he said: “Crash on the M53 towards Liverpool after J5. Coach on the side with school kids escaping from the back window.”
Motorway section closed after coach crash
A section of the M53 motorway has been closed after a coach overturned during morning rush hour.
The crash occurred just after junction 5 on the M53 towards Liverpool. The motorway is currently closed between Junction 5 Hooton and Junction 4 Clatterbridge following the serious incident.
Dramatic pictures from the scene show a coach on its side. Around 10 police vehicles, four fire engines and five ambulances are in attendance, according to reports, and North West Air Ambulance Services has also been sent to the scene.
It is not known if anyone has been injured as yet. Drivers are advised to avoid the area while the disruption continues.
A spokesperson for Cheshire Police said: The M53 is closed northbound between J5 Hooton and J4 Clatterbridge and is likely to remain closed for some time. Please avoid the area and follow any diversions signposted.”