Samuel Barker: Pupil died after falling while opening bus doors

Samuel Barker suffered head injuries after being hit by the minibus

A seven-year-old boy died after becoming trapped while operating the doors of his school minibus, an inquest has concluded.

Samuel Barker suffered "catastrophic" head injuries, the jury heard.

The inquest in Newport was told that children should not have been allowed to operate school bus doors.

The inquest has previously heard that Samuel and his brother opened and closed the bus doors themselves before it was driven off near Monmouth.

Giving a narrative conclusion, the jury said: "Samuel died by falling under the rear wheels of a minibus on 13 January 2020 on Hereford Road, Monmouthshire, resulting in catastrophic head injuries.

"Samuel died because he was in close proximity of a slow moving vehicle under which he was trapped after falling when operating the doors."

Debra-Hill Howells, a council official with responsibility for passenger transport, said the council's driver rule book said "never to allow pupils to operate doors", unless in an emergency.

In evidence, the driver John Jason Bevan said: "I was never made aware of this document."

Catherine Barker, Samuel's mother said Jason Bevan would "very rarely" get out of his vehicle.

Answering a question from a juror, Mrs Hill-Howells said there had been two incidents where monitoring officers found "drivers haven't been complying" with the rule.

The Health and Safety Executive issued the council with an improvement notice following Samuel's death which caused the council to review its arrangements for school transport.

The notice extended beyond the issues surrounding Samuel's death.

Mrs Hill-Howells said procedures had since been changed, including creating transport officers who check buses at schools during morning and afternoon drop-off.

The Health and Safety Executive was satisfied the requirements of the improvement notice have been met, the inquest was told.

The inquest previously heard Samuel had been travelling home from school on the bus with his brother and one other passenger on 13 January 2020.