SCHOOL BUS CRASH REPORTS 2007

Death Of Girl, 9, After Getting Off School Bus Was a 'Tragic Accident'
June 7, 2007

A nine-year-old girl who was hit by a school bus outside her Bessbrook home fell to her death after her schoolbag got caught in the doors of the bus, an inquest has heard yesterday.

Jessica Mary Lennon, of High Street, in Bessbrook was getting off the bus with her seven-year- old sister, Caitlin, when the accident occurred.

The court was told that, when the pair stepped off the bus, one of the straps on Jessica's bag got caught in the doors.

Sharon Lennon, Jessica's mother, told the court that her younger daughter, Caitlin, told her that Jessica yelled at her to get Jimmy - the nickname of the bus driver - to stop the bus, but he did not hear her.

It was then that the accident occurred.

"Caitlin told me that her and Jessica got off the bus and Jessica got caught up (by) one of the straps of her schoolbag," Mrs Lennon told the court.

"Caitlin told me she shouted at Jimmy to stop the bus but he must not have heard her. She then ran home. Caitlin has not said anything about the accident since that day."

The inquest also heard from William O'Gorman, who was driving the blue and white Ulsterbus on that day. Mr O'Gorman (64), who has been a bus driver for 34 years, wiped away tears as his original statement was read out to the court.

When asked by Coroner Suzanne Anderson if he saw the former St Joseph's Primary School pupil get caught, he said "No", adding he would have stopped if he did see anything.

He told the court that, when he stopped at High Street, he saw the girls get off the bus and made sure they were safe on the footpath before pulling out. He then claimed Jessica started to move to the front of the bus.

When asked if he heard Caitlin crying out to him to stop, Mr O'Gorman also said "No".

"It was the length of the bus before I heard the bump from the rear wheel," he said. "I did not hear anyone call out. The bus doors were closed at this stage."

Mr O'Gorman then moved the bus away from the scene to prevent the other schoolchildren from seeing the accident. After he parked the bus he said he then ran over to Jessica to help her.

Another witness, Ian Greenaway, who saw the girls get off the bus but not the actual accident, was the first person on the scene.

He told the inquest he tried to resuscitate Jessica even though he knew she was already dead.

A post mortem carried out by pathologist Derek Carson found that Jessica died after being crushed in-between the kerb and the wheel of the bus.

His report said her injuries were not consistent with being run over.

In her findings, Coroner Anderson extended her sympathies to Jessica's family describing the nine-year-old's death as a "tragic accident which was very distressing for everyone involved".

She said Jessica had died from serious head injuries which were the result of the accident.

Speaking after the inquest, Mrs Lennon described her daughter, who had five siblings, as a lovely wee child who loved playing camogie.

"She was close to her sisters and was a mother to her two younger sisters," she said.

She also said she did not believe Jessica walked in front of the bus as Mr O'Gorman stated.

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