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Family's pain still raw a year on from fatal crash

Coleman family Jason Coleman, Freddie Coleman and a young girl sat on what appears to be a rollercoaster at a theme park. Jason is wearing a grey and white hoody, has short grey hair and is smiling. Freddie is younger than 15 years old here. He has short brown hair, is wearing a blue hoodie and has his mouth open in excitement. The young girl is smiling while wearing a pink T-shirt. She has light coloured hair which has partially blown across her face.Coleman family
Jason Coleman said Freddie's death had "completely changed" the family's lives

The father of a boy who was fatally struck by a car as he waited for a school bus said his pain was immeasurable one year on.

Mayflower High School student Freddie Coleman, 15, died at a bus stop in Stock, Essex, on 3 November 2023.

His friend, who suffered injuries and was treated in intensive care for three weeks, was still making a "slow recovery", his family told the BBC.

Freddie's father, Jason, said: "To come back to the village and see what I saw – I wouldn’t wish that on any parent."

Mr Coleman said he was called at about 08:30 GMT that day and told there had been a "tragic accident".

"[Freddie] was just doing what normal 15 year-olds do, until the day he went to school and never came home," he added.

"It has completely changed not just our lives, but the people affected in and around - witnesses, other people in cars, another family."

Coleman family Freddie Coleman and his sister. Both are wearing school uniform, consisting of blazers, white shirts and black ties. Freddie has short, dark brown hair and he is looking at the camera expressionless. His sister has long brown hair and is smiling. The picture has been professionally taken on a light blue background.Coleman family
Freddie was a kind sibling to his sister, Mr Coleman said

The family had been blown away by the support of the community in the aftermath of Freddie's death, Mr Coleman said.

However, he added: "It still doesn't take the heartache or pain of losing a child; you should never, ever bury your own child."

'Like a race track'

Campaigners gathered alongside Mr Coleman in Stock Road on Wednesday to carry out speed checks on motorists.

Speedwatch volunteer Mark Rolph said five people were caught speeding within the first two hours of the action.

"It's always busy on this road, it's like a race track 24 hours a day," he said.

"It's incredible that people still speed along this road when they can see so much activity, it's crazy."

Qays Najm/BBC Jason Coleman, who is wearing a black jacket with a black hoodie underneath, looking at the camera expressionless. He has short grey hair. He is standing on the pavement next to Stock Road on a cloudy day. Cars are travelling on both sides of the road, which is lined with grass and trees.Qays Najm/BBC
Jason Coleman visits Stock Road a year after Freddie's death, campaigning for motorists to drive with care

Along with the Coleman family, campaigners have called on Essex County Council to reduce the road's speed limit to 20mph (32km/h).

Essex County Council said it investigated whether measures should be brought in but could not release details until a full coroner's inquest or court proceedings took place.

Police investigating Freddie's death arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drink or drugs.

He was released under investigation as inquiries continued.

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