Boy, 13, dies after bus and bicycle crash in Telford

The teenager was airlifted to hospital after the collision with the Arriva number seven service, in Haybridge Road, Hadley, shortly after 8am on Monday, but died of his injuries despite efforts to save him.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene and the road was closed to traffic between Manor Heights and the junction of Brookdale.

The Ercall Wood Technology College pupil who has not been named, was flown by air ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

A Hadley resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I was on my way home from the night shift at work and I was dropped off by a colleague in Haybridge Road. There was a group of boys walking and talking to each other on the opposite side of the road. I heard a scream. I turned round and I saw the youngster and the bus.

"Everybody rushed to help. The cars stopped and people were phoning for the ambulance. I helped to tell the motorists to turn around. I am still in shock because I've got kids too. The boy was going to school. They were just smiling and talking then something like this happens."

The bus was travelling from Wellington towards the direction of Trench Lock when the collision happened.

Rob Cheveaux, area managing director – north, at Arriva Midlands said: “We can confirm that one of our buses, on route seven, was involved in an incident with a cyclist in Haybridge Road.

“We are currently working closely with the police to assess the on-board CCTV footage and establish an accurate picture of the circumstances surrounding what happened. At this time, our thoughts remain with the loved ones of the child involved. We are also committed to ensuring the continued wellbeing of not only the driver of this service, but those who witnessed the incident, and we will be providing on-going support and counselling wherever required.”

The Midland Air Ambulance that attended the incident landed on the playing field at Hadley Learning Community (HLC) in nearby Waterloo Road.

HLC principal Dr Gill Eatough said: "The air ambulance landed on our playing field as our site was the closest area for it to land. We helped and supported them as best we as could. One of our parents kindly drove the paramedics to the scene. The young person was then driven to the helicopter by a land ambulance and then flown to hospital.

"We don't know what happened only that he was serious enough to be taken to hospital. He is not one of our students, but our thoughts are with his family at this moment."

Councillor Shaun Davies, leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “I was very sad to hear of the news this morning about the young boy who lost his life in an accident on Haybridge Road. My thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends at this terrible time. We have made our counselling support services available to the school should that be required.”

Witnesses to the collision should call West Mercia Police on 101, quoting incident 99s of 16 October.