Moment cocaine-fuelled driver hurtled through quiet village just before mowing down and killing boy, 13, in hit-and-run - then tried to STOP medics from saving his life

This is the moment a cocaine-fuelled driver hurtled through a quiet village just before hitting and killing a 13-year-old boy in a hit-and-run. 

Teenager Kaylan Hippsley suffered multiple fatal injuries as a result of the collision in Hirwaun, South Wales, and died days later in hospital.

Harley Whiteman, 19, was driving the Ford Fiesta that hit Kaylan at around 6.15pm on February 29, as the boy was standing outside a Co-op store with his friends.

Witnesses estimated the car was driving between 40mph and 60mph when it tried to swerve away from a car travelling in the opposite direction. 

Shocking footage shows Whiteman speeding down a quiet road, narrowly avoiding parked cars and barely stopping at a junction. 

Whiteman's car went up onto the kerb and hit Kaylan with the nearside of the Fiesta, prosecutor Julia Cox said. 

Following the collision, the defendant is alleged to have stopped a student nurse performing CPR on Kaylan, saying: 'Do you think I give a f*** about this kid on the floor? Why the f*** don't you all just leave him and stop doing that.' 

Bystanders tried to move Whiteman away as he became agitated and shouted at a man who asked him about his car. He responded: 'I don't know what you're talking about... I haven't got a car, I don't even drive.' The defendant also offered a man a fight as Kaylan lay dying in the road.

Police attended and Whiteman had to be restrained as he was arrested, with police believing him to be extremely intoxicated.

Ms Cox said the defendant was abusive towards police and members of the public, and showed no remorse for his actions, saying: 'It was a f****** good show.' 

He was asked to provide a roadside breath test and provide a sample of breath and blood but refused to do so. When he was interviewed Whiteman made no comment, but later told a probation worker he had taken a line of cocaine and had four pints of lager before the collision.

CCTV enquiries revealed Whiteman had been to The Cambrian pub in Aberdare and The Glancynon Inn in Hirwaun, where the landlord described the defendant as intoxicated and told him to leave because of his behaviour.

Kaylan died in hospital on March 3, having never regained consciousness. He was a pupil at Aberdare Community School and was a keen football and rugby player.

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 in the YMCA. Kaylan was described as a 'cheeky chappie' who was 'polite, creative and lovely'.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, Kaylan's sister Olivia said: 'There are no words I can put to properly describe the sheer horror caused to me and my family and writing this down caused unimaginable pain.

'Every time I tried I was completely overwhelmed.

'No real justice can be served today. Harley Whiteman has taken something from our family that can never be given back. We live in fear we will have to pass him in the street but we hope it will be a long time before we have to deal with this.

'Kaylan was a bright, intelligent young boy who had his whole life ahead of him, he loved playing rugby and was loved by all that knew him. I dropped to the floor screaming when I heard the worst news of my life, that Kaylan had been hit by a car, and my heart shattered into a million pieces.

'This happened in front of his friends who had to see their friend die in front of their eyes in the worst possible way.

'I am 19 years of age and spend most weekends with my grandmother who can't be on her own. Our father sadly died in 2018, all I had left of my dad was my younger brother.

'Now I have to face grief and carry this alone [...] I was hoping to start employment but this is near impossible because I'm constantly anxious and depressed [...] I can't pass the place he was killed, I cannot be in hospital settings, I fear cars driving too fast and don't want to be in a car myself.

'I cannot be alone, when I am, my mind is 100 miles an hour. I have spent weeks sleeping in my mother's bed with her, I've lost my appetite and cannot sleep. Every time I close my eyes I see my brother's dead body.

I felt guilt as if I was abandoning him and at the funeral I had to be pulled from there by my family.

'My grief is suffocating and I feel so alone I can't breathe. I feel guilty to be happy and question myself every day why Kaylan? Why a young boy who has done nothing wrong? Why not me? I wish it was me, I often wish I wasn't here anymore.

'Kaylan was not killed in a tragic accident, it wasn't until someone took him from us, someone was to blame and is responsible which makes it so much worse. That person is you (addressing Whiteman).

'You killed my 13-year-old brother who had his whole life ahead of him in the most dangerous situation, driving whilst under the influence with passengers in the car. You have shown no remorse.

'You ruined far more than one life and as a result you deserve to face the consequences for that.'

In her statement, Kaylan's grandmother Kay Hippsley said: 'Every time I leave the house since this happened, the actions of Harley Whiteman changed my life and will never be the same again. He's not only taken my grandson from me, he's ruined a multitude of lives. Kaylan came to live with me eight years ago which was a huge undertaking in my 60s and I have severe rheumatoid arthritis. We lost his dad and my son six years ago.

'Having him with me got me through the grief and brought moments of joy to my life. He was a 13-year-old boy who will never have the chance to live the life he deserves. To receive a call to say Kaylan had been hit by a car was horrendous and everything changed from then on.

'I am unable to go home to the family home. I have only been out to the hospital and Kaylan's funeral. I feel as well Kaylan's life ending prematurely mine has too. I have no purpose to my life and I don't know how I will carry on.

'I am so angry and devastated, I cannot put into words how this has affected my life and family. I cannot live with this or find it in my heart to forgive Harley Whiteman. This will be a small chapter in his life but Kaylan's life is over and our family will carry the grief and heartache to our dying days.'

Whiteman, of Cae Felin Parc, Hirwaun, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen. The court heard he was of previous good character.

In mitigation, James Hartson said his client was unable to provide an explanation for his actions at the scene of the collision, and was 'shocked, disorientated and panicked'. The barrister said the defendant's regret will live for him for the rest of his life, and he had lost his own father at the age of five.

Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: '(Kaylan) was killed by your flagrant and callous disregard for the rules of the road and others around you. (Kaylan's) injuries were described as unsurvivable.

'At the scene your behaviour was abhorrent and heartless, and when arrested you were aggressive, unruly and unrepentant.

'Anyone who commits such a dreadful offence such as this is committing an offence too serious 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' institute. He was disqualified from driving for a period of eight years and four months.