A ‘loving’ 11-year-old girl died weeks after she hit the path of an oncoming car on her way home from school. Emica Jackson-Miller was crossing the road when she was hit by a passing car on November 25, 2021.
The 11-year-old girl was taken to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children where she died on December 11, 2021 from serious head trauma. Her family say she never woke up.
An inquest at Plymouth Coroner’s Court today, June 8, heard the traumatized driver was unable to avoid DevonLive fatal collision reports. In a statement, the driver recounted how she was traveling along the busy residential road at around 25mph due to the number of cars parked on either side and speed bumps along the road.
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She remembers seeing ‘groups’ of school children when it was 3.30pm and she wasn’t driving fast because she knew they were on the verge.
She said: “As I was driving past some parked cars, I saw (a) young girl suddenly appear behind a vehicle parked to my left. I hadn’t seen her on the raised curb or the steps down the road ; I just saw his upper body.”
MPC Investigating Police Officer Lucy Tyler-Jones told the inquest evidence from the driver and witnesses confirmed that Emica, a seventh year student at Torquay Academy, came down the steps on the driver’s left side in the road and because of its size it would not have been visible.
It was added that there were no faults with the car which could have caused or contributed to the collision and that the driver had not been distracted by her phone and had not been under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
MPC Tyler-Jones concluded: “For some unknown reason, Emica entered the path of the car on the driver’s left side without checking if the road was clear to cross.”
Ribbons, flowers and teddy bears left at the scene of the collision. Emica Loralie Jackson-Miller was seconds away from home. (Image: Holly-Jade Miller-Wood)
She added that there was no evidence the driver had fallen below the standards of a competent driver. Coroner Ian Arrow recorded a finding of a traffic accident and questioned MPC Lucy Tyler-Jones about safety issues on the road where it happened. Queenway.
He said: ‘We are still consulting with local authorities to see if there is any conclusion from their review of the scene.
Mr Arrow asked to be informed of the outcome and confirmed that he would then write to the road authorities if necessary. Coroners can use their powers under Regulation 28 to make a report to prevent future deaths.
In January, DevonLive reported that measures had begun to make the crossing safer after Emica’s death. Torbay MP Kevin Foster and local Conservative Councilor Andrew Barrand met at the scene of the accident to discuss possible road safety improvements.
Councilor Barrand asked the council to use bollards to prevent parking on shoulders and corners, and to create a better crossing point for pedestrians outside the school.
After Emica’s death, Torquay Academy headmaster Steve Margetts paid tribute to her on his website. He said, “Emica made friends quickly and easily because of her infectious personality. Her friends speak of her as kind, loving and caring.
Since his death, his family have been appealing for the Wallace and Gromit Appeal of Bristol Children’s Hospital. Almost £11,000 was raised.
On the appeal page, her family said: “She is much loved and will always be remembered. Emica fell asleep by the roadside on November 25. She never woke up and died on December 11 surrounded by her family and the incredible team at Bristol Children’s Hospital.”
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Source: www.somersetlive.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-06-08 23:00:00
