Girl, 10, died after being hit by ambulance ‘driving without siren’ as she walked to buy sweets for film night
A TEN-year-old girl who died after being struck by an ambulance was on the way to buy sweets for a film night, an inquest heard.
Schoolgirl Shaniqua Loftman-Smith may not have been aware of the ambulance as she dashed across the road as the emergency vehicle's sirens were not playing at the time, Nottingham Coroners Court was told.
Shaniqua had been on her way to grab sweets and popcorn from a local supermarket for a night in at her home in Bulwell, Nottingham last December.
A female relative who witnessed the horrific accident - referred to as Child A - told the court: "All I can remember is just standing there, and I saw her back, and then bang. It felt so quick."
The child said the pair had walked through an alleyway just before the crash on Low Wood Road.
Rachel May, a passenger in the ambulance, said Shaniqua's figure appeared in her peripheral vision before she heard a bang and driver Paul Adcock slammed on the emergency brake.
Ms May said: "It all kind of happened within an instant."
Immediately after the crash Shaniqua's relative ran home to get help while the ambulance crew and other motorists attended to the ten-year-old-victim.
'HAPPENED IN AN INSTANT'
She was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but tragically died eight days later from a "traumatic head injury".
Paul Adcock, who was driving at a speed of 52mph at the time of the crash, told the court he had "intermittently" been using the ambulance's sirens but they were not playing at the time of the crash.
He also said he felt "comfortable" travelling at the speed as he rushed to a potentially life-threatening call, despite the number exceeding the "advisory" limit followed by East Midlands Ambulance Service.
PC Andy Bell, a collision investigator for Nottinghamshire Police, said the damage profile from the vehicle suggested Shaniqua may have been running across the road at the time.
He said had the vehicle's sirens been on, it would have alerted her to its presence.
Coroner Laurinda Bower said Shaniqua was "streetwise", but added: "I am satisfied that at the point Shaniqua entered the carriageway she was not aware she was placing herself in imminent collision with the approaching ambulance.
"I find Shaniqua entered the carriageway at speed; by that I mean running or moving quickly."
GONE TOO SOON
Ms Bower said there was ";a possibility" Shaniqua may have heard the sirens if they were being used at the time of the crash, but found it would be "a leap too far" to say the crash would not have occurred had they been used.
The coroner added she couldn't say the speed was "inappropriate", and that a paramedic in the ambulance and other eyewitnesses "were not alarmed" by how fast it was travelling.
A verdict of accidental death was recorded.
Following the inquest, Shaniqua's heartbroken mum, Kerry Smith, paid tribute to her daughter, and thanked friends and family for their support following her death.
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She said: "The pain of losing a child is like no other. People say it gets easier but it hurts more every day. Not hearing your child's voice and not seeing her beautiful smile breaks my heart.
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"A massive part of my life has been snatched away from me and left a big impact on a lot of people.
"I would like to thank all the people in the community that pulled together to support me and my family."
