Young boy killed in bus tragedy (From Swindon Advertiser)

Young boy killed in bus tragedy

9:30am Friday 8th August 2008

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A YOUNG boy died after he was hit by a double decker bus in Westlea last night.

Another boy is being treated in hospital for serious injuries, but it is not yet known whether they are life-threatening.

The accident took place on Westlea Drive just past Risingham Mead opposite a playground at 8pm.

Eyewitnesses reported how they saw a boy run into the road from behind a stationary single-decker bus straight into the path of another oncoming bus.

He died at the scene.

Acting Inspector Joe Saunders, of the Northern Roads Policing Unit, said the incident involved a Stagecoach 55 bus.

"The bus was in collision with two children," Acting Insp Saunders said.

"As a result of the collision the five or six-year-old child sustained fatal injuries. "The other child, thought to be eight years old and from Toothill, sustained serious injuries and is currently being treated at the Great Western Hospital."

The road was closed off for six hours while accident investigators and vehicle examiners scoured the road.

It is believed both boys, whom police described as local, were on the other side of the road talking to friends when they crossed to go back to the park.

There were bus stops on either side of the road where the accident took place. It is thought that a single decker Thamesdown Transport bus heading towards the West Swindon District Centre had stopped to collect passengers on one side while the other bus went past, heading for the town centre.

Witnesses including bus passengers were spoken to at the scene and will be questioned further this morning.

The driver of the Stagecoach bus was said to be in shock following the fatality.

Sholto Thomas, operations director for Stagecoach West, who attended the scene, said: "He's very traumatised as you would expect and we feel for him as well.

"We have no comment to make on the incident.

"We're working with the police.

"The bus had CCTV and police are taking a copy of that in their inquiry."

Residents spoke of their horror in the aftermath of the tragedy, but said that it was common for children to tear across the bridge from Toothill to Westlea and cross the road without checking.

One nearby resident, who did not wish to be named, said that she had a near miss in her car three weeks ago on Westlea Drive when a boy on a bike shot out into the road from the direction of the bridge.

She said: "We just live round the corner and I heard a lot of sirens and knew it was close."

Karen Taylor, 44, of Benwell Close, said: "Kids do run out, but it's an awful tragedy."

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward and contact investigating officer PC Lockwood at the Northern Roads Policing Unit on 0845 408 7000.

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