The tragic crash of a school bus on a Merseyside motorway last year has taken a new turn as the coroner’s office has revealed that the driver, Stephen Shrimpton, died of natural causes. The crash on the northbound M53 in Wirral resulted in the death of 15-year-old passenger Jessica Baker.
The spokesperson for the Liverpool coroner’s office announced that Shrimpton’s case has been closed, with no further details released about the cause of his natural death. The crash, which involved about 50 students being taken to school, also left four other children injured, with one 14-year-old boy sustaining life-changing injuries.
During the inquest into Shrimpton’s death, it was revealed that CCTV footage showed him slumping to his left while driving the coach, leading to the tragic crash. The senior coroner for Liverpool and Wirral, André Rebello, emphasized the need for clarity on seatbelt rules for coaches and buses, as well as the importance of further medical examinations to determine the cause of Shrimpton’s death.
Jessica Baker, who was partially ejected from the vehicle and suffered fatal head injuries, was remembered by her family as a talented climber and a warm-hearted individual. A fundraising campaign in her memory raised over £6,500 for Climbers Against Cancer.
The inquest for Jessica is scheduled for a later date, with a review hearing set for July. The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety measures on school buses and the devastating impact of such accidents on families and communities.