An 19-year-old aspiring medical student tragically lost his life when he was fatally struck by a speeding car while crossing a pedestrian lane in Middleton, Leeds, West Yorkshire. Ashton Kitchen-White was pronounced dead at the scene after being hit by a Ford Focus ST on May 16. His family mentioned that he was on the brink of starting his medical studies at Leeds University.
The incident occurred on Ring Road Beeston Park, where the car, allegedly driven by 26-year-old Regan Kemp, was reported to be travelling at 80mph in a 30mph zone. Kemp purportedly collided with Kitchen-White and then fled the scene, abandoning the vehicle.
Kemp is currently standing trial at Leeds Crown Court, facing charges of causing death by dangerous driving, although he denies being the driver. He claimed that a friend was behind the wheel while they were negotiating for a vehicle in Leeds.
According to the prosecution, Kemp, originally from Cornwall but traveling from near Edinburgh, came to West Yorkshire on the evening of the incident. He was driving the Ford Focus with two friends in a Mini Cooper. The court heard that Kemp was showcasing the car to a potential buyer by accelerating at high speeds, reaching 80mph in a 30mph zone where the fatal collision occurred.
CCTV footage presented to the court showed the aftermath of the accident, with Kemp allegedly abandoning the damaged car and fleeing the scene. Kemp’s fingerprints were the only ones found in the vehicle. Afterward, he returned to Scotland with his friends before eventually turning himself in to the police.
The prosecution emphasized the excessive speed at which the car was being driven, stating that Kitchen-White stood no chance due to the reckless driving. The trial is ongoing and is expected to last four days.