The driver of a school bus who died when it flipped over following a motorway crash has been named as 40-year-old Stephen Shrimpton.

His family paid tribute to ‘a loving husband and father to his wife and his wonderful children, a caring and thoughtful man who would always prioritise others over himself’.

In a statement, they added: ‘Stephen will be sadly missed by all his friends and family. The family have requested privacy at this devastating time.’

It came after his sister-in-law Emily revealed he was ‘suffering medical issues’ while at the wheel on a crowdfunding page set up to pay for his funeral, which has already surged past its £6,000 target.

A 15-year-old girl, Jessica Baker, also died after the coach overturned on the northbound M53 near junction five at Hooton, Cheshire, at around 8am on Friday.

In total, 58 people were involved in the incident, including the two fatalities.

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Four children who were taken to hospital – including a 14-year-old boy whose injuries are said to be life-changing – are in stable conditions, according to police.

Others were handled at an emergency training centre, with 13 treated for minor injuries before they were released.

The bus was en route to West Kirby all-girls grammar school and Calday Grange all-boys grammar school, also in West Kirby, Merseyside.

Detective Sergeant Andy Roper, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: ‘The thoughts of everyone at Merseyside Police remain with those who were affected by the tragic incident yesterday.

‘The families of Stephen and Jessica are being supported by specially trained officers and we are working with both schools and Wirral and Cheshire West councils to ensure the necessary trauma support is in place for the children who were affected.’

The force is appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage from drivers near the incident.

The section of the M53 was closed after the crash on Friday but has since reopened.

Anyone with information about the crash should call the Matrix Serious Collision Investigation Unit on (0151) 777 5747 or [email protected], or contact @MerPolCC on X (formerly known as Twitter) or Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook quoting reference 23000944471.

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