A 'loving' young girl tragically suffered fatal injuries after being struck by a car on her way home from school.
Emica Jackson-Miller, aged 11, was crossing the road when she was hit by a passing car on November 25, 2021.
Emica was taken to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children after the incident in Queensway, Torquay, where she passed away on December 11, 2021, due to a severe brain injury.
An inquest held at Plymouth's Coroner's Court on June 8 heard how the traumatised driver involved in the fatal collision had been unable to avoid it, Devon Live reports.
In a statement, the driver told of how she was travelling along the busy residential road at around 25mph due to the number of parked cars on either side and speed humps along the road.
She recalled seeing 'bunches' of school children as it was was 3.30pm and that she wasn't driving fast because she was aware they were about.
She said: "As I was passing some parked cars I saw (a) young girl suddenly appear from behind a parked vehicle to my left side. I had not seen her on the raised pavement or the steps coming down the road; I just saw her upper body."
Investigating police officer MPC Lucy Tyler-Jones told the inquest that evidence from the driver and witnesses confirmed Emica had walked down steps from the driver's left hand side into the road and that due to her height she would not have been visible.
The collision happened close to Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Primary School.
It was added that there were no defects with the car that could have caused or contributed to the collision and that the driver had not been distracted by her phone and had not been under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
MPC Tyler-Jones concluded: "For an unknown reason, Emica stepped into the path of the car on the drivers left hand side without checking to see if the road was clear to cross."
She added there was no evidence the driver had fallen below the standards of a competent driver. Coroner Ian Arrow recorded a conclusion of road traffic collision and asked MPC Lucy Tyler-Jones about safety concerns over the road.
She said: "We are still in consultation with local authorities to see if there is any conclusion from their examination of the scene."
Mr Arrow asked to be notified of the outcome and confirmed he would then write to highways authority, if appropriate. Coroners are able to use their powers under Regulation 28 to make a report to prevent future deaths.
In January, Devon Live reported moves had begun to make the road crossing safer following Emica's death. Torbay MP Kevin Foster and local Conservative councillor Andrew Barrand have met at the scene of the accident to discuss possible road safety improvements.
Councillor Barrand has asked the council about using bollards to prevent parking on verges and corners, and creating a better pedestrian crossing point outside the school.
Following Emica's death, Torquay Academy principal Steve Margetts paid tribute to her on its website. He said: “Emica made friends quickly and easily due to her infectious personality. Her friends talk about her as kind, loving and caring.”
Since her death, her family has launched an appeal in aid of Bristol Children’s Hospital’s Wallace and Gromit Appeal. Nearly £11,000 has been raised.
On the appeal page her family said: "She is much loved and will always be remembered. Emica went to sleep at the side of the road on November 25. She never woke up and died on December 11 surrounded by her family and the amazing team at Bristol Children's Hospital."
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