15-year-old girl killed by double-decker while running to catch bus
07.08.2023 - 17:09
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A schoolgirl tragically died after being hit by a double-decker as she ran to try and catch a bus alongside her friend, an inquest heard.
Sophie Fletcher sustained severe head injuries after the large vehicle drove into her on Shead Lane, Sheldon, Birmingham, just before 3pm on March 18. An inquest heard how she hopped off one bus on the opposite side of the road with her friend and ran across the street to catch another.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and Sophie was taken to hospital where she later died. Birmingham Coroners Court heard how the driver of the National Express bus was unable to avoid hitting Sophie as she ran in front of him.
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PC Gail Arnold, a collision investigation officer with West Midlands Police, said: "Both girls got off the bus and ran down the side of the bus on the footpath and continued running behind the bus into the carriageway. She ran out in the road from behind the bus and nothing could be done to avoid the accident."
She added that the tragedy was captured on dash-cam footage from another vehicle and the bus which collided with Sophie was travelling at 23mph in a 30mph zone. Assistant Coroner for Birmingham and Solihull Ian Dreelan said: "Sophie and her friend had left a bus and ran behind the back of the bus.
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"Her friend stopped but Sophie continued to run. She was struck by an oncoming double-decker bus. It is clear from video footage that the bus driver was simply unable to react in time.
"The distance was simply too short. She suffered injuries which caused her to die at the scene. Death was caused by a