Driver fatally struck girl, 6, as she got off bus

A man who fatally injured a six-year-old girl after he hit her with his truck as she stepped off a bus has been jailed.

Stephen Worden's truck collided with the stationary double decker bus, before mounting a grass verge and striking three children on the A6 Garstang Road in Bilsborrow, Lancashire, on 15 August 2023.

Millie Joy Gribble suffered a catastrophic head injury and died in Alder Hey Hospital six days later, police said. The two other children – a boy now aged 16 and a girl now aged 15 – were left with serious but not life-changing injuries.

At Preston Crown Court, 61-year-old Worden was jailed for 12 months after admitting death by careless driving.

Worden was originally charged with causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Following a trial at Preston Crown Court in October, he was found not guilty of those offences.

However, he had pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving on 22 July.

Worden, of Nateby, Preston, was also disqualified from driving for two years.

In victim impact statements read to the court, Millie's dad Joseph Gribble said: "Millie was so close to all our family and the apple of my eye.

"Millie was my world, and we did everything together, from playing football, swimming, new adventures and movie nights when she was with me.

"Millie could do no wrong in my eyes, with her mischievous and yet loving nature. I am so proud to call Millie my daughter and always will be."

Her mum Sam Edmundson said Millie was "the most beautiful six-year-old girl you could ever wish to meet".

"Millie was someone who could light up a room simply by just walking in it," she said.

"It truly breaks my heart and my heart aches knowing none of her dreams for the future are ever going to happen now.

"My beautiful little girl Millie wasn't just my daughter, she was my best friend, my everything.

"I miss her bright, cheerful, innocent energy, the sound of her voice, her giggle, the feel of her hand in mine.

"I miss our cuddles. I just miss everything about her. I just want my beautiful little girl back."

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