Accident on a Bus

The mother of a teenage boy who was thrown from a moving school bus has called for greater safety measures to be put in place.

Alexander Willey, 17, and a teenage friend ended up on the road after a window on the bus became detached from its frame.

The boys had been thrown against the window by the motion of going round a roundabout near Shincliffe in County Durham.

The friends did not suffer any injuries but were left badly shaken.

Adrienne Humbertsone, Alexander's mother, said: "It raises a number of quite scary safety issues for children using a school bus

"First are they safe, should a window be able to pop open in that way, because people do get thrown around on a bus. What if it had been an upstairs window, because it was a double-decker bus.

"It seems to me children should be sat down, should even have seatbelts on."

In a statement Arriva North East said: "Safety is our number one priority and we put our vehicles through rigorous safety teats every 28 days."

Law firm Irwin Mitchell commented: "In the aftermath of the accident, the primary concern is for the injured passengers. The investigators will be looking at the cause of the accident and whether it could have been avoided. There have been a number of recent incidents involving coaches and causing injury. Investigations will hopefully consider whether there are any links between them or whether recommendations should be made for different working practices for drivers, in the interests of public safety."

Irwin Mitchell can provide assistance to injured passengers as we offer a high level of expertise and knowledge in this area. Victims of similar accidents who wish to seek legal advice can contact Irwin Mitchell Solicitors for further information on: 0370 1500 100.