Katelyn Dawson death: Driver 'shot through red lights', inquest hears

Katelyn Dawson was waiting for a school bus on the morning of the crash

A driver "shot through the red lights like a rocket" moments before ploughing into a bus stop and killing a 15-year-old schoolgirl, an inquest heard.

Katelyn Dawson died in the crash as she waited for a school bus on Wakefield Road, Huddersfield on 10 January 2018.

An inquest into her death is being held at Bradford Coroner's Court.

The driver of the car was never prosecuted because he is believed to have suffered a medical episode while behind the wheel.

Katelyn, who attended Shelley College in Huddersfield, had been waiting for the bus when she was fatally injured just after 08:30 GMT.

She was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary where she later died.

Another teenager and an older woman were also injured in the crash.

On Wednesday the court heard from two drivers who witnessed the incident, with CCTV footage also played as Katelyn's family left the courtroom.

One of the witnesses, who had been following the car involved in the crash, said the vehicle swerved before it "shot through the red lights like a rocket".

Another witness fought back tears as she gave evidence.

Family's 'devastation'

The CCTV footage showed a black car not following the curve of the road and continuing straight on before it hit the bus stop with such force its canopy collapsed.

Katelyn's father Colin told the coroner his daughter was a typical teenager who was approaching her GCSE exams.

He spoke of the "devastation" her death had caused, telling the court: "You can never try to put it into words what it has done mentally and physically."

The family "will never get over it", he added.

The driver of the car which hit the bus stop is expected to give evidence at the inquest, which is set to conclude next week.