‘One in a million’ aspiring doctor, 19, was killed by motorist driving at 80mph in 30mph zone in pedestrian crossing hit and run, court told
A ‘one in a million’ trainee doctor was killed on a pedestrian crossing by a driver going 80mph in a 30mph zone, a court heard.
Ashton Kitchen-White died at the scene after being hit by a Ford Focus ST in Leeds on May 16 this year.
The 19-year-old was preparing to study to become a doctor at Leeds University at the time of his death.
Jurors heard Mr Kitchen-White was crossing the road in Leeds, where the speed limit is 30mph, when 26-year-old Regan Kemp mowed him down and fled the scene, traveling at 80mph.
Kemp is on trial at Leeds Crown Court charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
He denies being the driver and claims the vehicle was driven by his friend who was trying to get a swap deal for a VW Golf GTD.
Mr Kitchen-White’s family paid tribute following his death, saying he was ‘one in a million’.
The statement said: ‘He is equally loved by his family and friends, and is also much loved by his brother and two sisters.
Ashton Kitchen-White (pictured) was preparing to study to become a doctor at Leeds University at the time of his death.
‘When he was 19 he was about to embark on his journey to become a doctor at Leeds University. He loved going to the gym and martial arts.
‘We cannot express the immense devastation we all feel.
‘Although her life was cruelly taken from us, she will always be remembered as an absolutely beautiful soul.’
Paul Mitchell, prosecuting on behalf of the Crown, said Kemp, who was from Cornwall but had traveled from Scotland, arrived in West Yorkshire on the evening of Friday, May 16.
The court heard he was driving a Ford Focus while two friends were in a convoy in a Mini Cooper.
Mr Mitchell said Kemp took a man from Leeds who was interested in the car for a test drive after arriving in the city at night.
The prosecutor said Kemp was behind the wheel and “showing off,” accelerating at high speed and shifting gears.
He reached speeds of 80mph on the Ring Road Beeston (a 30mph zone) where Mr Kitchen-White was on a pelican crossing.
Shocking footage shot on a backseat passenger’s mobile phone was shown to the jury, which captured the screaming car accelerating hard and someone was heard commenting it was ‘crazy fast’.
Picture: Beeston Park Bypass near where Ashton Kitchen-White’s Ford Focus ST was struck in Leeds on May 16 this year
A loud thud is heard as the car speeds towards Mr. Kitchen-White.
Mr Mitchell added that the footage ‘clearly’ showed Kemp driving and that the driver also had a south-west accent, which could only have been Kemp given that two of his companions were Scottish.
The car was allegedly abandoned minutes after hitting Mr Kitchen-White.
CCTV footage showed the badly damaged Ford pulling up; Mr Mitchell said it was Kemp who then emerged from the driver’s side.
Only Kemp’s fingerprints were later found on the Focus.
He then runs to the street where the Mini Cooper is parked, gets in the car and leaves with his friends, heading back to Scotland.
Kemp then went home to St Just, Penzance.
It emerged that Kamp handed himself in to police four days later and was taken back to Leeds, but then refused to answer police questions.
Mr Mitchell told the jury Mr Ashton-White had ‘no chance’ due to the Ford’s ‘extreme speed’.
He added: ‘The King says the driver of the car was Kemp and that his dangerous driving was responsible for Ashton’s death.
‘He denies being the driver and tries to blame it on another man.’
The trial continues.
