by A devastated family have spoken out about their heartbreak after a 13-year-old boy was hit and killed by a car driven by a drunk driver.
Teenager Kaylan Hippsley was hit and injured by a Ford Fiesta driven by Harley Whiteman, 19, on Brecon Road, Hirwaun, Wales at around 6.15pm on February 29. as a result of the collision and died days later in hospital.
The court heard that Whiteman drunkenly tried to stop people from treating him while verbally abusing bystanders who were trying to save the young boy’s life. Kaylan’s sister, Olivia, said in a court statement that her brother was a ‘bright, intelligent’ lad who ‘loved to play rugby and was loved by everyone who knew him.’
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Kaylan was standing outside the Co-op shop with his friends when he was hit. He never regained consciousness despite the best efforts of those on the scene as the defendant drove at speed.
A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Tuesday 30 April heard that Kaylan and three of his friends were seen on CCTV standing outside the Co-op shop. He was wearing a light blue-grey hoodie and his hood was up.
Kaylan’s friends observed a Ford Fiesta traveling at speed, with several witnesses estimating that the vehicle was traveling between 40mph and 60mph. A Citroen car was traveling in the opposite direction with parked cars creating a narrow gap. Despite this the White Man tried to push through, swerving left and right in an attempt to avoid the oncoming car.
Prosecutor Julia Cox said Whiteman’s car went up to the curb and hit Kaylan with the side of the Fiesta. The impact threw Kaylan into a one-way street junction and hit the road 12.5m from the point of impact. After the collision, the defendant did not stop and continued to drive erratically at speed, narrowly avoiding another collision with another car.
Whiteman took the same loop and drove past the scene of the collision as members of the public were treating Kaylan. A man who recognized him saw him, but he revved his engine and took off when the man tried to take a picture of him. The White Man then drove back to his home nearby and his two passengers got out of the car and returned to the scene of the collision, where he made his way shortly afterwards.
A trainee nurse was performing CPR on Kaylan when the defendant tried to stop her. He said: “Do you think I give a *** about this kid on the floor? Why the f*** don’t you all just leave him and stop doing that.” Bystanders tried to move the White Man away as he became agitated and shouted at a man who asked him about his car. He replied “I don’t know what you’re talking about…I don’t have a car, I don’t even drive.” The defendant also offered to fight a man, as Kaylan lay dying in the road.
Police attended and Whiteman had to be restrained as he was arrested, and police believed he was extremely intoxicated. Ms Cox said the defendant was abusive towards the police and members of the public, and she showed no remorse for his actions, saying: “It was a good show ******”.
He was asked to provide a roadside breath test and a breath and blood sample but refused to do so. When interviewed, Whiteman made no comment, but later told a probation officer that he had taken a line of cocaine and had four pints of lager before the collision. CCTV inquiries revealed that Whiteman had been to The Cambrian pub in Aberdare and The Glancynon Inn in Hirwaun, where the landlord described the defendant as drunk and was told to leave because of his behaviour.
Kaylan died in hospital on March 3rd and never recovered. He was a pupil at Aberdare Community School and loved football and rugby. He lived with his grandmother Kay Hippsley, and lost his father at the age of six. He enjoyed playing with friends in the village and at the YMCA. Kaylan was described as a “cheeky chappie” who was “polite, creative and beautiful”.
‘You have shown no remorse. You have destroyed much more than one life’
In a victim personal statement read to the court, Kaylan’s sister Olivia said: “There are no words I can put down to properly describe the horror that has happened to me and my family and in writing this caused unimaginable pain… Every time I tried it. was completely overwhelmed we have to deal with this.
“Kaylan was a bright, intelligent young lad who had his whole life ahead of him, he loved playing rugby and was loved by everyone he knew. I fell to the floor screaming when I heard the worst news of my life, that Kaylan was hit by a car, and my heart broke into a million pieces..
“I’m 19 years old and I spend most of the weekends with my grandmother who can’t be alone. Our father sadly died in 2018, I didn’t have anything left from my father and my younger brother. Now I have to deal with this grief and behavior alone… I was hoping to start employment but this is almost impossible because I am always anxious and depressed… No i can go past the place where he was killed, i can’t be in a hospital, i’m afraid of driving cars too fast and i don’t want to be in a car myself.
“I can’t be alone, when I am, my mind is 100 miles an hour. I’ve spent weeks sleeping in my mother’s bed with her, I’ve lost my appetite and I can’t sleep. Every time I I close my eyes I see my brother’s eyes I felt guilt as if I was abandoning him and at the funeral I had to be pulled from there by my family every day why not young boy anything wrong?
“Kaylan wasn’t killed in a tragic accident, it wasn’t until someone took him from us, someone was to blame and held responsible, which makes it that much worse. That person is you (facing on the White Man)… A 13-year-old brother who had his whole life ahead of him in the most dangerous situation, driving while under the influence of the passengers in the car You showed no remorse to face the consequences related to that.”
In her statement, Kaylan’s grandmother Kay Hippsley said: “Every time I leave the house since this happened, Harley Whiteman’s actions have changed my life and it will never be the same again. Kaylan came to live with me eight years ago, a business It was huge in my 60’s and I have severe rheumatoid arthritis We lost my father and my son six years ago the joy of my life.He was a 13 year old boy and he will never have the chance to live the life he deserves to spend
“I can’t go home to the family home. I’ve only been out to the hospital and Kaylan’s funeral. I also feel like Kaylan’s life is ending prematurely too. I have no purpose in my life. life and I don’t know how I will go on but Kaylan’s life is over and our family will carry the sadness and heartache until our dying days.”
Whiteman, of Cae Felin Parc, Hirwaun, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to provide an example. The court heard he had previously been of good character. Mitigating, James Hartson said his client was unable to explain his actions at the scene of the collision, and was “restless, disoriented and panicked”. The lawyer said that the defendant’s regret would last him for the rest of his life, and that he lost his own father at the age of five.
Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: “(Kaylan) was killed because of your blatant and blatant disregard for the rules of the road and other rules around you. (Kaylan’s) injuries were described as non-survival… At the scene your behavior was desolate and heartless, and when you were arrested you were aggressive, erratic and unrepentant… This is a very serious offense for anyone who commits a heinous offense like this to be dealt with by anything other than an immediate custodial sentence.”
Whiteman was sentenced to six years and nine months’ detention in a young offenders’ institution. He was disqualified from driving for a period of eight years and four months.
