Pupils were led out of school this afternoon in silence as flowers were left for a 15-year-old girl who died on the M53.
The mood outside West Kirby Grammar School on Friday, September 29, was sombre after the tragic news a pupil – a 15-year-old girl from the school – had died after a bus crash on the M53. Emergency services were called to the motorway between junctions four and five at around 8am after the coach crashed a reservation and overturned.
The coach was taking pupils to West Kirby Grammar and Calday Grange Grammar School in Wirral. Merseyside Police has now confirmed 58 people were involved in the crash and given an update on their conditions.
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A 15-year-old girl, Jessica Baker and a dad-of-two Stephen Shrimpton, who was driving the bus, lost their lives in the tragic incident. The family of Stephen shared in a GoFundMe Page how he had suffered "medical issues at the wheel".
Two further children were taken from the scene to Alder Hey Children's Hospital and two were taken to Arrowe Park from the scene. Police tonight confirmed a 14-year-old boy had suffered life-changing injuries in the crash and remains in hospital.
A total of 52 people attended the emergency services training centre, 39 were discharged with no need for further treatment and 13 were treated for minor injuries and released.
At the end of the school day children from West Kirby Grammar were led by teachers to buses that arrived outside the school to take them back home. Pupils left the building in single file and were silent while boarding the buses.
Police officers were stationed outside the school until all the pupils had left the building. One bunch of flowers could also be seen on the school grounds.
Following the tragedy police are now appealing to anybody with information or dashcam footage of the incident to come forward as a matter of urgency.
Local Policing Superintendent Sabi Kaur said: "This was a truly horrific incident and the impact on this will have been felt far and wide not only in Wirral but across Merseyside. Our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the girl and the bus driver as well as with those who have been impacted by this incident and we will do everything we can to support them in the coming days and weeks.
"We would ask anyone who witnessed the collision or believes they have captured something significant to contact us as a matter of urgency. We would also ask the public to avoid speculating on the incident or posting information or images which could be distressing for the families and those involved."
The M53 between junctions 3 and 5 will remain closed in both directions for a "considerable time" while investigations continue and motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes. The Birkenhead Tunnel will not close as scheduled at 9pm tonight (Friday) and will remain open while the M53 is closed.
Anyone with information about the collision is asked to call the Matrix Serious Collision Investigation Unit on (0151) 777 5747 or SCIU@merseyside.police.uk or contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook quoting reference 23000944471.
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