Pupil injured on M53 school bus crash recalls harrowing moment vehicle overturned and killed girl, 15, and driver
A PUPIL injured in the M53 school bus crash has recalled the harrowing moment the vehicle overturned and killed a girl and the driver.
Jessica Baker, 15, was one of two people who died after the coach overturned on the northbound M53 near junction five at Hooton, Cheshire, at around 8am on Friday.
Coach driver Stephen Shrimpton, 40, also died and a total of 58 people were involved in the incident.
Four children were taken to hospital including a 14-year-old boy whose injuries are said to be life-changing.
Others were handled at an emergency training centre, with 13 treated for minor injuries before they were released.
The bus was en route to West Kirby all-girls grammar school and Calday Grange all-boys grammar school, also in West Kirby, Merseyside.
Now an anonymous pupil has described how there was “blood everywhere” after the crash.
“I looked around and there’s just people lying down everywhere,” the boy told Sky News.
“Bags are everywhere,” he continued. “There’s glass everywhere. And it’s just like blood, everywhere.
“I’ve seen both my mates on the floor, but I thought they were dead. I looked around again and saw a girl stood next to me.
“I was in shock. I put my hand on my face and I looked back at my hand and it was covered in blood.
“I remember saying, like: ‘This can’t be my blood’.”
Jessica’s family paid tribute to her in a statement released through Merseyside Police.
In it, they said: “Jessica was a warm-hearted, wonderful daughter, granddaughter and niece, devoted sister and loyal friend.
“A talented climber, based at the Boardroom Climbing centre academy where she helped coach younger climbers and competed around the country inspiring others.
“At the age of 15, just starting Year 11 at West Kirby Grammar School, where her focus was not just on academic work but also sports, representing the school at many events.
“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.”