The ambulance involved in a fatal crash that killed a 15-year-old boy was on its way back to base, the North West Ambulance Service has confirmed.
NWAS released a statement this morning detailing the incident that killed Saul Cookson on the afternoon of Thursday, June 8.
The teenager died after the vehicle collided with his electric bike on Langworthy road, Salford.
The statement shared with Manchester Evening News said the incident occurred around 2pm yesterday.
It read: “We can confirm that an ambulance was involved in a collision with a young person, who was riding an electric bike, on Langworthy Road in Salford at around 2pm on Thursday.
“The patient received medical treatment immediately by the ambulance crew and was transported to hospital, where he sadly later died. We are participating fully in the police investigation.
“We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the young person’s family.”
Saul, who has not yet been officially identified but was named locally by his sister, was being followed by traffic police until moments before his death.
Greater Manchester Police said officers were driving along Fitzwarren Street and Lower Seedley Road behind the youngster until they met a set of bollards that prevented them from going any further.
He then ran into the ambulance on Langworthy Road,
Greater Manchester Police has now referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is leading an investigation into the crash.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said the referral was made in line with “normal proceedings” and that the forece’s thoughts are “with the family and friends of the boy who tragically died”.
A relative of the boy, who attended the scene to lay flowers, said the family was “a mess” following the news.
Family friend Jacob Bailey, 19, said: “I’ve known Saul since he was born. He was just one of those proper nice kids. No-one had a bad word to say about Saul.
“I just don’t believe it. He had so much to live for and in the blink of an eye it’s just all.. 15 is no age is it.”
Mr Bailey said he went to the hospital after finding out the identity of the boy, saying: “It was bad times to see his parents there in bits.”
Neighbour Karen Cosgrove said she had passed the scene at around 2.30pm on Thursday and seen the boy lying on the ground.
“I walked away, I could barely look at it. His mum was there, she was screaming. “Everyone’s in shock.”
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