999 horror as girl, ten, is killed by ambulance
Shaniqua hit while walking home in third tragedy on ‘accident blackspot’ road
‘The driver must be devastated’
A GIRl aged ten who was knocked down by an ambulance just before Christmas has died of her injuries.
Shaniqua loftman- Smith had been walking home on December 22 when she was hit by the emergency vehicle as it responded to a 999 call.
She was taken to hospital, where her condition was described as critical, but died on Monday.
yesterday her devastated family released a picture showing Shaniqua smiling in her school uniform.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the crash, which happened at around 6.30pm.
Residents of Bulwell, nottinghamshire, near the road where Shaniqua was hit, said it was an ‘accident blackspot’ and that there had been at least two other fatal accidents on the same stretch in recent years.
following the death of Danny Thomas in 2007, more than 1,000 local residents signed a petition calling for the speed limit to be lowered. Mr Thomas, 19, was on his way home from a friend’s birthday party when he was hit by a car. The driver failed to stop but was later caught and received a suspended prison sentence.
The accident was just yards from where 15-year-old Ashton hazell was killed in a collision in May 2004.
east Midlands Ambulance Service (eMAS) has refused to reveal the nature of the 999 call last Sunday, but there was speculation last night the ambulance did not have its siren on at the time of the accident.
It is understood the crew tried to help Shaniqua before she was taken to hospital. A woman who lives nearby, who did not want to be named, said: ‘I have blue Christmas lights on the inside of my house so I thought it was them at first.
‘I went to the window and I saw ambulances and police cars on the road. I have a young daughter myself so it is horrible – it’s awful to think a young girl has been killed.’ Marie Gurr, 38, a cleaner who lives nearby, said: ‘People are speculating on whether the ambulance may have had their sirens off and just the lights on.
‘I feel for the ambulance staff too – the driver must be devastated. It would have been dark as well, as it’s not that well lit.
‘I think something needs to be done. Cameras, whatever. My old neighbour, three years ago, her son got hit on that road and it left him in a bad way. It was absolutely horrendous. She has moved now because she couldn’t cope with living there.’
She added: ‘It’s a really bad road. for years it’s been bad. A few years back another lad was killed on it, just running out to get his ball. There are a lot of children on this estate.’
Richard henderson, eMAS chief executive, said in a statement: ‘I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the patient’s family at this very difficult time, and my thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident.
‘We continue to co- operate with the police in their investigation into what happened, and therefore it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment at this time.’
Police have appealed for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage. A spokesman said: ‘nottinghamshire Police would like to offer their condolences to the girl’s family, who have asked for privacy at this difficult time.’