Plea over danger crossing

ANN KERRIDGE — died at Oldham Bus Station

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THE grieving daughter of a woman who died after being hit by a bus has made an emotional plea for a pedestrian crossing to be removed.

Sharon Kerridge laid flowers at the spot where her mother, 56-year-old Ann Kerridge, died precisely four years ago.

Ann was killed after she was knocked to the ground by a single-deck First bus as she used the Cheapside station in January, 2007.

Reinvigorating memories of that tragic day, Sharon (40), of Oldham Road, Royton, used the anniversary of her mum’s death to take a stand against the crossing that she says still could cost lives.

She said: “I want the crossing closed. It’s dangerous.

“Drivers still have to turn left the same as they did at the other end where my mum was hit.

“It’s really annoying, but unless I get my back up and make a noise nothing will be done.”

Two high-risk crossings, including the one where Ann died, were later removed and replaced with safer ones. Oldham coroner Simon Nelson later attributed the death to a blind spot blocking the bus driver’s site and the station layout.

However Sharon said that a remaining crossing, at the end of the bus station closest to the new Integrated Care Centre, still poses a similar threat.

She added: “I want it safer for children.

“There are plenty of children that use those crossings. Do we want a mother and father coming home from work having police at their front door because something has happened to their child?

“Something needs to be done.”

The family has struggled to come to terms with the sudden death of their cherished mum and grandmother, who they describe is a bubbly and outgoing lady.

Vying to get justice for her death, the family have recently been given a second compensation offer from First. Sharon doesn’t yet know the amount.

She said: “To this day it is awful, people say it gets easier but it has been so hard.

“My mum did not die from an illness, she was stolen from us. I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.”