Driver who struck and killed boy, 13, jailed

A driver who struck and killed a 13-year-old boy near a retail park has been jailed.

Harry Kinney-Ryan had been buying sweets from a petrol station when he was hit near Stonedale Retail Park in Croxteth, Liverpool, on 7 December 2022, police said.

Members of the public gave him first aid and he was taken to hospital but died two days later.

Craig Griffiths, 36, who remained at the crash scene, was jailed for 12 months and given an 18-month disqualification at Liverpool Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving after he was found to have been travelling between 53 and 58mph (93km/h) on a road where the maximum speed limit was 40mph (64km/h).

Det Sgt Andy Roper, from Merseyside Police, said: “This is an extremely sad case in which the driving decisions made by Griffiths that day have led to devastating consequences.

“Not just for Harry’s family and friends, but indeed for his own.”

He said the first aid provided by members of the public “enabled Harry to survive in hospital for a further two days”.

The detective added: “This provided his loved ones with the ability to spend some precious final moments with him.”

In an earlier tribute, Harry's family described him as a "loving and caring" boy who "always made those around him laugh and was definitely the class clown".

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