New appeal after head-on crash left teenager needing leg amputated
It happened in Kirkby a year ago today (22 December 2024)
Police are renewing an appeal to find the driver responsible for a head-on crash in Kirkby that left a teenager needing one of his legs amputated.
Emergency services were called to Bracknell Avenue, near Kirby High School, at around 6:25pm on Sunday 22 December 2024 after reports of a collision involving a dark silver Honda Civic and a 15-year-old boy, who was riding his pedal bike.
The boy suffered extensive injuries, which resulted in him having his leg amputated.
The car, which displayed a stolen 70 plate with the registration 0V70 0WG, failed to stop and made off in the general direction of Bewley Drive and then towards Valley Road.
It had been stolen during a burglary at a car dealership in Wigan on 8 December 2024.
On 18 December, the car was spotted by police in Greater Manchester but disappeared after they gave chase in Wigan.
It was next seen on 28 December in Greater Manchester with damage to the windscreen and bonnet, but the vehicle evaded officers again and was found burnt out a short time later in Billinge.
Merseyside Police are still working to trace the driver - and want anyone with information to come forward.
Detective Sergeant Simon Duffy from our Matrix Serious Collision Investigation Unit said:
"This was a shocking incident which has left a teenage boy with life-changing injuries which continue to impact him to this day.
"This was a residential area with a 20mph speed limit but our forensic investigators have established the car was travelling in excess of 70 miles per hour.
"The car was a 2018 dark silver Honda Civic with very distinctive lighting to the front and rear. It had a false plate with the registration OV70 OWG.
“It is incomprehensible to think that anyone could even consider driving away and leaving the boy with such catastrophic injuries. We remain committed to tracking that person down and anyone who may have assisted following the collision.
“Our enquiries remain ongoing, and I would make an appeal directly to the driver of the car to consider the feelings of the boy and his family and come forward.
“We believe the vehicle was in the Sefton and Kirkby areas for at least one week prior to the collision so we would again appeal for anyone who has seen a vehicle like that in the image, to contact us as a matter of urgency.
"I would also ask the local community to consider the victim, his family and the risk posed by such a dangerous driver, and if you have any information at all regarding this incident, then please work with us to help identify those responsible for this crime."
Crimestoppers is offering a £7,500 reward for information the charity exclusively reveals that leads to the conviction of anyone involved in the collision.