Bus named in memory of passenger who died in crash

The bus Omari used to catch to work in Long Eaton has been named in his honour

A teenager who died in a motorbike crash has had the bus he used to catch to work named in his memory.

Omari Thomas, 17, used to catch the Skylink from his home in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, to Tesco in Long Eaton, Derbyshire.

Now the 128 bus that runs the route past his house has been renamed as a tribute to the A-level student who died in a crash in October last year.

On Sunday, a ceremony unveiling a plaque on board was carried out with operator Trentbarton and Omari's friends and family.

Omari Thomas used to ride the Skylink to work

Omari's dad Kieron Thomas said his son "lived life to the fullest", and thanked the bus operator for its "warmth and compassion" with a "truly touching tribute".

Mr Thomas said: "My young king was a loving, funny, ambitious, hard-working, and intelligent A-level student."

Omari was "striving to be a pilot", he added, and had a keen interest in property development.

"I celebrate him every second of every day, walk with Omari in my heart, will love him endlessly, and miss him deeply, a pain that will never ease."

A spokesperson for the bus firm said it was "deeply honoured to commemorate Omari" and the "outstanding turnout" at the weekend reflected "the impact he had on those around him".

An inquest at Nottingham Coroner's Court in March this year ruled that Omari died from a head injury at the Queen's Medical Centre on 22 October 2024, the day after his single-vehicle motorbike crash in Field Lane, Chilwell.

A bench and tree have been installed at a Beeston park in Omari's memory

The family has used money raised following his death by Tesco and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to plant a tree and install a memorial bench at Dovecote Lane Recreation Ground in Beeston, which Omari used to visit with his family.

His auntie Iman Thomas organised the installations at the park.

She said: "It was a bit overwhelming for the family to see how big an impact he's had in his 17 years of life.

"Hearing the stories and interactions he's had with the wider community showed how much of a kind and caring young man he was. His nature was very calm and warming at the same time.

"He's left a massive gap that's just indescribable in all our lives."

Omari's family said they would also like to organise a portrait as part of the Beeston graffiti art trail.