Heartbroken family of 15-year-old girl who died in M53 bus crash while on her way to school pay tribute to 'kind, loving and talented climber' who loved sport and 'lived life to the full'
- Jessica Baker, 15, died in the crash on the M53 in Merseyside on September 29
The distraught family of a teenage girl killed in a horror bus crash on her way to school have paid tribute to a 'kind, loving and talented climber' who loved sport and 'lived life to the full'.
Jessica Baker, 15, was killed instantly when the school coach overturned near junction 5 of the M53 in Wirral, Merseyside, on September 29.
Coach driver Stephen Shrimpton, 40, also died in the accident as he took pupils to two local schools, West Kirby Grammar School and Calday Grange Grammar School.
Four others were to taken to hospital including a 14-year-old boy who suffered life-changing injuries.
A total of 52 people attended an emergency services training centre, with 39 discharged with no need for further treatment and 13 treated for minor injuries before being released.
Her heartbroken family have paid tribute to the schoolgirl, who they cherished as a 'warm hearted wonderful daughter, granddaughter and niece, devoted sister and loyal friend'.
Jessica Baker, 15, was killed in the road traffic collision near junction 5 of the M53 in Wirral, Merseyside, on September 29.
Jessica was described as a talented climber who was looking to pursue a career in sport
Jessica's family added: 'Her untimely death has led to a massive void in our lives that will never be filled'
READ MORE: 'I thought I was going to die': Sobbing schoolgirl says M53 school bus crash was 'very scary' as she is pulled from wreckage
Her family thanked members of the public for their kindness and said: 'Jessica was a talented and dedicated climber who competed over the last seven years of her life across the UK representing both the North West and Wales.
'Jessica loved all sports and chose GCSE PE as one of her options, but her overriding passion was for both indoor and outdoor climbing.
'Despite being a teenager, Jessica was able to communicate with everyone she came into contact with regardless of their age. She was often seen offering support to fellow climbers on how to achieve a problem/route they were trying to complete.
'Jessica was planning to explore a career in sport in some way and was due to begin her coaching qualifications later this year towards this goal.'
An online 'MuchLoved' page has been set up to allow friends and family to share memories of Jessica. Donations in her memory can also be made to 'Climbers Against Cancer', a charity that was close to her heart.
Jessica's family added: '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.'
Her school also paid tribute, saying she was 'unequivocally kind and empathetic... a dedicated friend who was a well-liked and respected member of our school community'.
Detective Sergeant Andy Roper, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: 'Our thoughts remain not only with Jessica's family but the bus driver Stephen Shrimpton's family who also passed away and are being supported by specially trained Police Officers.
Stephen Shrimpton, 40, who's believed to have suffered a medical episode at the wheel, died after the bus he was driving mounted the embankment between Junction 5 and 4 of the M56, in Eastham, Wirral, and overturned
Jessica Baker (pictured), who attended West Kirby Grammar School, died when the coach she was on crashed in Hooton, Cheshire, on Friday morning
The coach was carrying pupils from West Kirby all-girls grammar and Calday Grange all-boys grammar school in Merseyside
Emergency services were called on Friday after reports of an overturned coach on the northbound M53 near to junction 5 at Hooton, Cheshire
'My team and I have held a meeting with the families of the other 57 children involved and they are being supported and updated on the progress of the investigation. On behalf of those families, I would like to thank those people who stopped and helped in the immediate aftermath of this tragic incident.
'A police investigation into this incident is ongoing which will be submitted to the coroner ahead of an inquest early next year. If you have any new information please continue to let our officers know.'
Eyewitnesses described how injured children climbed through windows of the bus to escape from the wreckage.
At an inquest opening on October 5, coroner André Rebello said the coach had been travelling northwards when it collided with the embankment and ended up on its side.
'Given the extent of the collision it's miraculous there were not more fatalities,' he said.
He said CTTV footage from inside the bus, he said, showed Mr Shrimpton had suffered 'an event' at the wheel at he was seen to 'slump to his left side' before the bus the left the carriageway.
Mr Rebello said the 'likely' cause of Jessica's death was a head injury while medical examinations were focused on the Mr Shrimpton's heart.
He said the precise cause of Jessica's death will be determined by crash investigators but it appeared she was 'partially ejected' from the vehicle which then landed on her causing 'catastrophic and instantaneous' head injuries.
Jessica and Mr Shrimpton, both born in Chester, were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Rebello said he would be seeking 'clarity' about the law regarding the wearing off seatbelts aboard coaches.
He said it was his understanding that from 2001 onwards anyone over the age of 14 was responsible for wearing a seatbelt in buses fitted with them.
Stephen Shrimpton, 40, (pictured) was driving the coach of more than 50 students when it crashed and flipped onto its side
A close-up photo of the stricken bus on the side of the M53 motorway on Friday
Mr Rebello said many young people today 'may not be fully aware' of the 'clunk-click' public information films of the 1970s which highlighted how serious injuries could be prevented by wearing seatbelts.
He intended to write to the Secretary of State for Transpor to get clarity over the wearing over seatbelts on school coaches and 'unusually' he will also write a Regulation 28 report - calling for action to prevent further deaths - during the course of the full inquests rather than afterwards, as usual.
Mr Rebello added that it was 'difficult' to find information about seatbelt laws by going a Google search.
Father-of-two Mr Shrimpton suffered 'medical issues' at the wheel, according to his family.
They said in a statement: 'Stephen was a loving husband and father to his wife and his wonderful children, a caring and thoughtful man who would always prioritise others over himself.
'Stephen will be sadly missed by all his friends and family.' A fundraising page set up for him has so far raised more than £20,000.
