May 2009 - 11 year old dies in M6 crash

AN 11-year-old football fan was killed in a motorway pile-up as he made his way to watch Bolton Wanderers.

Shaun Bates died after the car he was travelling in was involved in a six-vehicle smash on the M6 at 1pm on Saturday.

Family, friends and Bolton Wanderers officials said the news had left them “devastated” and have today paid tribute to a “charming and delightful” young man.

Club chairman Phil Gartside is preparing to make a special visit to the family to pay his respects.

Shaun and his dad David Bates, aged 51, and two friends were travelling to Bolton for the Aston Villa game from their home in Rugby, Warwickshire.

The accident happened near to junction 16 of the M6 at Staffordshire.

Back seat passenger Shaun was airlifted to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire after being given emergency treatment for multiple injuries at the scene and a doctor continued to treat him during the journey, but he died later in hospital.

David, a postman, together with the driver and another passenger, escaped with minor injuries.

A family statement said: “Shaun was a clever, charming and delightful young man in his first year of secondary school. His love of Bolton Wanderers was his abiding passion. His death will leave a huge gap in all our lives and he will be missed terribly.”