Teen killed on zebra crossing by 'show off' driver

An "irresponsible show off" driver has been jailed for 16 months after he killed a teenage girl as she crossed the road at a zebra crossing.

Christopher West, 42, drove into 15-year-old Keely Morgan on Heol Trelai, Caerau, Cardiff, on the evening of 1 May 2023 and she died at the scene.

West, from Ely - who had been travelling at between 32mph (51km/h) and 43mph (69km/h) on the 30mph road - admitted causing death by careless driving and death by driving without insurance after removing a black box in his vehicle, which voided his policy.

Keely's family said the sentence "does not reflect the enormity of what has been taken from us".

There was swearing and a shout of "disgusting" as the sentence was given, with some members of Keely's family walking out of Cardiff Crown Court.

Judge Paul Hobson said victim impact statements read by Keely's family had made clear "how her loss has devastated those who loved her of who there were many".

He said she was a "young woman who was part of a large family network" adding that "things were opening up for her after Covid and after her health difficulties".

Keely, who had a kidney transplant in 2021, was using her iPad as she crossed the road, the light from which could be seen on CCTV.

Judge Hobson said "ultimately Keely was there to be seen" and West "should have seen her and come to a stop".

Keely's family said in a statement that, while they respected the court's decision, the sentence did not reflect the "enormity" of her death.

"Keely was just 15 - full of life, hope, and endless possibilities. Her death has devastated our family and community," they added.

"The pain of losing her in such a violent and preventable way will remain with us forever.

"We believe more must be done to ensure that dangerous/careless drivers face real consequences."

The court heard evidence from the young passengers in West's car who said he had been " showing off" and "snaking" - steering the car from side to side.

"The picture of you which emerges is of an irresponsible show off," Judge Hobson told West.

"Although you may well be sorry for what happened, a large part of your concern is for yourself."

After the crash, West was said to be "apologetic" and "in a state of panic".

Sentencing West, Judge Hobson said "the seriousness of this offence and the combination of aggravating factors" meant an immediate jail term was necessary.

West was sentenced to 16 months for causing death by careless driving and 11 months for causing death by driving while uninsured, to be served concurrently.

He was also disqualified from driving for two years and eight months.

In a victim impact statement, Sian Morgan, Keely's mother said: "I often have sleepless nights, panic attacks and I am in constant fear that I am going to lose another child to someone as careless as you.

"It haunts me daily.

"I close my eyes at night seeing my daughter Keely laying in her coffin. I have flashbacks daily of the day I identified her. I am forever in pain all because of you.

"My other children are forever in pain. My seven-year-old son was five when Keely passed away, he asks for Keely every single day.

"He always asks 'mum why did Keely have to die? Our lives are not the same anymore and I miss my big sister'.

"I am broken, my family are broken and you have broken all of us."

Keely's grandmother, Maria Wilson's victim impact statement was also read in court.

She said: "Keely was my first-born grandchild. I was there when she entered the world - a tiny baby who had to fight from the very beginning, even then, she showed strength.

"When I found out what had happened - that Keely had been killed - it felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest. It's a feeling I will never forget.

"Even now, I struggle to sleep. Special dates throughout the year are incredibly hard - birthdays, Christmas, the day she died. But it's not just those. It's the milestones that never happened, but should have; her GCSE results last summer, her school prom."

She added: "Helping my daughter Sian and her children through this grief has been one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Watching them suffer, especially Keely's brother, who is struggling to come to terms with the loss of his sister, is heart-breaking.

"This is not something any family should have to go through. It could and should have been avoided if more care had been taken that day.

"Our family now has a massive hole in it. One that will never be filled. Keely was part of all of us - our joy, our hope, our future. Her absence is something we carry every day."

lain Wilson, Keely's grandfather, said: "Keely's death was not just a tragic accident - it was a cruel and preventable end to a young life full of promise.

"Our lives have been changed forever."