Truck driver who killed schoolgirl, six, when he ploughed into group of youngsters as they stepped off a bus is jailed for 12 months

A truck driver who killed a schoolgirl when he ploughed into a group of children as they stepped off a bus has been jailed for a year. 

Millie Joy Gribble, six, was mowed down by 61-year-old Stephen Worden after she stepped off a stationary double-decker as she and her mother headed for lunch. 

Worden was driving a white Iveco Daily truck as he travelled down Garstang Road in Bilsborrow, Lancashire, before the crash on August 15, 2023, the court heard. 

He then mounted the nearside grass verge and struck three children, one of them being Millie. 

She was rushed to Alder Hey Hospital after suffering a catastrophic head injury and died six days later with her parents at her bedside, Preston Court was told.  

Two other children – a boy, now 16, a girl, now 15 – were also left with serious injuries, and Worden was later charged with causing death by dangerous driving. 

The 61-year-old was also charged with two counts of causing injury by dangerous driving, and was found not guilty following a trial in October. 

Worden of Nateby, Preston, pleaded guilty to death by careless driving and two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving. 

 Millie Gribble, six, (pictured) was mowed down by Stephen Worden after she stepped off a stationary decker bus

Millie died from her injuries days after being taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital by Air Ambulance

He was sentenced to a year behind bars and was disqualified from driving for two years.  

During the hearing, Millie’s parents Joseph Gribble and Sam Edmundson, described their daughter as their ‘heartbeat’ and ‘world’ in written victim statements.

‘Millie was my heartbeat, my world, my reason to improve my life in every way,’ her father said while saying the heartbreak of his loss could not ‘be put into words’. 

‘We did everything together, from playing football, swimming, new adventures and movie nights when she was with me.

‘Millie could do no wrong in my eyes, with her mischievous and yet loving nature.

‘I am so proud to call Millie my daughter and always will be. Millie was adored by everyone who met her.

‘The hours, the days, the weeks have passed now, and the pain is always there, there is no getting away from it.

‘For myself, I now don’t know what I want from my life. My life is ruined, and I’ve lost all purpose of it.

He explained that while ‘every day is hard’, he continues for his family as well as to make his ‘beautiful’ and ‘amazing little girl’ proud.  

Worden pleaded guilty to death by careless driving and two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving and has been sentenced to twelve months behind bars (Pictured: Millie Gribble)

‘I can’t wait to see her again, and I know that I’m wishing my life away, but all I want is to be with my beautiful Millie, the most important part of my world.’

Her mother, Mrs Edmunson, wrote of how she is the mother of ‘the most beautiful six-year-old girl you could ever wish to meet.’ 

‘Millie was someone who could light up a room simply by just walking in it. Everyone knew Millie, and everyone loved Millie,’ she said.

‘It truly breaks my heart, and my heart aches knowing none of her dreams for the future are ever going to happen now.

‘Millie loved all her family so much, and this is something she would say almost every day, and we, as a family, love her infinitely.’

She added that Millie wasn’t just her daughter, but her best friend as well as her ‘everything.’ 

‘I miss her bright, cheerful, innocent energy, the sound of her voice, her giggle, the feel of her hand in mine.

‘I miss our cuddles. I just miss everything about her. I just want my beautiful little girl back.’

Following the sentencing, Sergeant Martin Wilcock, a Senior Investigating Officer at our Road Policing Unit, said: ‘While I know today’s media focus will be on Worden and the sentence he has received, my thoughts are very much with Millie and her loved ones.

‘Millie’s death has had and continues to have a profound impact on her family.

‘It is clear to me that if you knew Millie, you loved her. And she is someone who is incredibly missed.

‘I hope Millie’s tragic death will focus people’s minds on the dangers of careless driving.’