Schoolboy trapped under bus after horror crash in Leeds

SURGEONS battled to save the life of a schoolboy who was left trapped under a bus after a horror crash in Leeds.
The junction Cardinal Avenue, close to Dewsbury Road, where a boy was knocked down by a bus. PIC: Jonathan GawthorpeThe junction Cardinal Avenue, close to Dewsbury Road, where a boy was knocked down by a bus. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe
The junction Cardinal Avenue, close to Dewsbury Road, where a boy was knocked down by a bus. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Emergency services were called shortly after 5pm as horrified onlookers were left helpless after the youngster went under the wheels of the 202/203 bus on the Ring Road near the White Rose Shopping Centre.

The road was closed as firefighters using specialist equipment to carry out a painstaking operation to lift the vehicle and free the child.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was rushed to Leeds General Infirmary and was yesterday in theatre with serious injuries to his legs.

Police are now investigating, but no-one has been arrested.

Nigel Featham, regional managing director for bus company Arriva, said: “We can confirm that an Arriva bus was involved in an incident on the ring road at Beeston, Leeds. The bus was operating on the 202/203 service.

“We are currently working closely with the police to understand exactly what happened. Our thoughts are with the child involved and his family.”

The incident happened as a petition was launched, backed by road safety charity Brake, urging the government to add a compulsory road safety education programme to the secondary curriculum.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Figures show there were 60 crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists aged 11 to 16 in Leeds last year – the third highest of any city outside London.

Michael Bristow, of Brake, welcomed the petition by insurance company Chaucer Direct. He said: “Road safety is almost a forgotten subject amongst secondary education and it’s vital hat we educate all age groups on just how dangerous our roads can be.

“Although figures have dropped in the number of fatalities and serious injuries amongst under 15s, our recent survey of 5,000 school children shows that two thirds feel unsafe when walking and cycling near our roads.”

Police are now investigating, but no-one has been arrested.

Nigel Featham, regional managing director for bus company Arriva, said: “We can confirm that an Arriva bus was involved in an incident on the ring road at Beeston, Leeds. The bus was operating on the 202/203 service.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We are currently working closely with the police to understand exactly what happened. Our thoughts are with the child involved and his family.”

The incident happened as a petition was launched, backed by road safety charity Brake, urging the government to add a compulsory road safety education programme to the secondary curriculum.

Figures show there were 60 crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists aged 11 to 16 in Leeds last year – the third highest of any city outside London.

Michael Bristow, of Brake, welcomed the petition by insurance company Chaucer Direct. He said: “Road safety is almost a forgotten subject amongst secondary education and it’s vital hat we educate all age groups on just how dangerous our roads can be.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Although figures have dropped in the number of fatalities and serious injuries amongst under 15s, our recent survey of 5,000 school children shows that two-thirds feel unsafe when walking and cycling near our roads.”