Aston Soulsby · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On the 16 November 2016, I commenced an investigation into the death of the child, Aston Soulsby. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 26 May 2017. The conclusion of the inquest was a conclusion of: Road Traffic Collision.

The cause of death was:

1a Hypoxic Brain Injury
b Cardiac Arrest as a consequence of Road Traffic Collision

i) At around 15:50 hours on the 1 November 2016 on Crankhall Lane, Wednesbury, schoolboy Aston Soulsby was involved in a collision with a bus.

ii) The road in question is subject to a 30mph speed limit and at the time of the collision there were parked vehicles in the Walsall bound carriageway commencing from the island, and on West Bromwich bound carriageway they commence just after the collision point.

iii) Between the two carriageways there is a central hatch marking area.

iv) The bus was being driven along Crankhall Lane towards the general direction of West Bromwich and a second vehicle (Vauxhall Corsa) was being driven along the same road towards Walsall.

v) Aston was in company with a group of school friends and were making their way home. One of his friends crossed the road but Aston who ran across the road narrowly missed the Vauxhall Corsa car but sadly was struck by the bus.

vi) He sustained serious traumatic injuries and despite medical treatment he died on the 7 November 2016 in hospital.

vii) The bus was travelling at a speed of 25mph on the approach to the collision scene and the bus driver appears to have had insufficient time to react to Aston in the road and avoid the collision.

viii) The average speed of the Corsa vehicle was estimated to be around 34mph and was in the hatch markings. This vehicle was fitted with a particularly loud exhaust system and may have distracted Aston giving the perception the vehicle may have been travelling faster.

1. Evidence emerged during the inquest that pedestrians frequently wait in the hatch area whilst crossing the road and vehicles also pass parked vehicles in the road in the hatched area. This may lead to confusion and pose a risk for pedestrians and motorists.