Teenage girl who died in M53 school bus crash named as Jessica Baker

A teenage girl who died when the school bus she was travelling in overturned on the M53 in the Wirral has been named as 15-year-old Jessica Baker.

The bus driver – who has been named online by his family as Stephen Shrimpton, a father of two – also died.

Police have confirmed a 14-year-old boy also suffered life-changing injuries in the collision and remains in the hospital.

The crash happened shortly after 8am when the school bus struck a reservation and overturned near junction 5 of the M53.

Merseyside Police reported the bus was taking students to Calday Grange Grammar School in West Kirby and West Kirby Grammar School.

The accident involved a total of 58 people, including a 14-year-old boy now undergoing treatment in the hospital for life-changing injuries.

Of the 52 people taken to a clearing centre in Wallasey, 39 were released with no need for further treatment, while 13 others were treated for minor injuries.

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.”

According to the Calday Grange website, the W3 bus route begins in Bache stopping in Little Sutton before proceeding along the M53 towards West Kirby.

The bus involved in the tragic accident is a property of Carvers Coaches, based in Ellesmere Port.

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.