A boy, 11, was tragically killed in a bus crash while cycling to his grandfather’s house in Manchester. On the day of the incident, the bus driver beeped his horn and tried to overtake the schoolboy, an inquest heard, who then turned to the right into the path of the vehicle. 11-year-old Lucas Ashton was killed following the crash on December 30, 2022, in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Last week, on April 2, an inquest was held into his death at Bolton Coroner's Court, where Lucas’ mother, Sarah Heaton, read out a statement. She described her son as “a very adventurous young man from the very start”. Senior paramedic with the North West Ambulance Service, Emma Schofield, told the court she was the first member of the emergency services to arrive at the scene, “shortly after 1pm”. She explained how she “immediately recognised” that it “would not be possible to save Lucas”.

During the inquest, CCTV footage from the bus and a nearby care home was played, showing Lucas riding his bike on the left side of the road. The driver of the vehicle then beeped his horn and tried to overtake the schoolboy. In response, Lucas turned sharply right and collided with the bus.

One passenger, Victoria Lester, said she remembered him “jumping at the sound of the horn” and that he “seemed to be losing control”.

Forensic collision reconstruction officer, PC Martin Davies, told the court: “In this particular case, I was able to establish that if the bike carried on in a straight line it wouldn't have happened.

“In regards to why or how Lucas turned the bike, I wasn't able to establish why.

“There's no evidence to support that it was a loss of control.

“There was no reaction from Lucas and no indication that Lucas had heard the horn before it happened.”

Coroner Peter Sigee said the schoolboy died of a “traumatic head injury suffered in a road traffic collision”. He also states how the bus driver had been “overtaking in a manner within the highway code”. 

“Lucas suddenly, and without warning, veered to the right so that a collision occurred”, the coroner added. 

“Lucas was unseated from his bicycle and he suffered an unsurvivable injury.

“Before I close this inquest, may I reiterate my condolences to everyone involved.”