Investigation into fatal Cardiff e-bike crash finds officer should face misconduct hearing
Teenagers Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans died after the Sur Ron bike they were riding crashed in Ely in May 2023
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has found a South Wales Police officer has a case to answer for gross misconduct in connection with an investigation into an e-bike crash in which two boys died.
Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and 15-year-old Harvey Evans died after the Sur Ron bike they were riding crashed in the Ely area of Cardiff, in May 2023.
CCTV showed a police van earlier driving behind the teenagers. It was approximately half a mile away from the e-bike, on a different road, when the fatal collision occurred. The investigation found no indication of contact between the police vehicle and the boys’ e-bike immediately before the collision.
However, the investigation concluded the PC who was driving the van has a gross misconduct case to answer over the accuracy of accounts he provided to colleagues after the collision incident.
IOPC investigators also concluded the officer has a case to answer, at the level of misconduct, in relation to his driving and language he used in relation to the boys at the collision scene.
IOPC Director David Ford said: “Our thoughts and sympathies continue to be with the families of Kyrees and Harvey and everyone affected by the loss of such young lives. We know the boys’ deaths have had a deep impact on the local community.
“Our role when someone dies following police contact is to examine all the circumstances surrounding that incident.
“Our independent investigation looked at the interactions South Wales Police had with the boys before the collision, plus accounts provided by officers at the scene and later to our investigation.
“After a thorough review of that evidence and applying the relevant legal test - that a police disciplinary panel could find the case proven - we have determined an officer should face disciplinary proceedings. It will be for a police disciplinary panel to determine whether the allegations are proven.”
A number of police officers were injured when rioting broke out in Ely following the boys' deaths in 2023.
South Wales Police said it welcomed confirmation in the update that the police van was half a mile from the scene at time of the fatal collision.
Assistant Chief Constable Simon Belcher said: "Following the tragic deaths of Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans in Ely in 2023, South Wales Police made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct to ensure the matter received independent scrutiny.
"The force has fully co-operated with the IOPC investigation and provided information and material, including CCTV footage and body-worn video."
The Crown Prosecution Service has previously decided not to bring criminal charges against the officer and the families have exercised their right under the Victims' Right to Review to challenge this decision.
ACC Belcher added: "We hope that the outcome of the independent investigation and future inquest proceedings will provide answers to the many questions which have been raised about this case.
"Our thoughts, as ever, are with the families and friends of Harvey and Kyrees and all those affected by their deaths."
The IOPC said a second investigation into family complaints against South Wales Police remains close to concluding.