MOTHER OF MOTORBIKE CRASH VICTIM: ‘EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO GET HOME SAFELY’

(An older story, published now as part of my portfolio. This was written in Semester 2 of Level 5 as the news story I wrote for my Investigative Journalism module)

On a personal note, the cover photo is one I took a few years ago of Amy after we had come home from school, and were chatting on the way home from the bus stop. I have included a small gallery at the bottom of this article to remember her.

Mother of a 20-year-old woman killed in horror motorbike crash wants tougher sentencing for the man who killed her daughter. 

Mandy Cooper, feels that 8 and 3 months years in prison, is not enough for what Shane Kelk took from her family that night, but does not want all those convicted of causing death by dangerous driving to be ‘tarred with the same brush’.  

20-year-old Amy Cooper, of Whaplode Drove, was killed in November 2022 by Shane Kelk, 28, from Long Sutton. 

At around 5pm on November 13th, Kelk’s BMW 3 series collided with Amy Cooper’s Kawasaki 125 on the B1168 in Holbeach, Lincolnshire. 

Mr Janes, of the prosecution, stated that the driver of the Toyota that Shane Kelk was repeatedly trying to overtake described visibility in the heavy fog on November 13 as ‘poor’.

He also said he had reduced his speed to below the 60mph limit as he drove to the conditions.

During the sentencing, Judge Simon Hirst said Kelk had "callously left Amy dying on the road", before stating "You found Amy and you heard her murmur. What you didn't do was stay with Amy. What you didn't do was to ring 999 to seek assistance. Before adding;  "What you did do was everything you could to save your own skin."

Amy's mother, Mandy Cooper, said in court that it was ‘inconceivable’ to her that Kelk left Amy in the road, without so much as calling for help. 

Mandy also said that despite what happened to her daughter, not all those who kill through reckless or dangerous driving should be banned from driving. 

She said those who glance at their phone for a split second or experience some kind of distraction should be given another chance. 

However in the instance of Shane Kelk, who had been repeatedly trying to overtake another vehicle in bad conditions- this was no accident. 

Visibility was at an estimated 50-100m at the time of the crash. 

As Amy lay in the road following the collision, Shane Kelk checked she was still alive and upon hearing her murmur, he apologised and fled the scene, before doing so much as calling 999.

The following morning, she died from multiple pelvic and abdominal injuries.

This exemplifies Mandy's notion that this was not an instance that should be forgiven, seeing how he had fled the scene and did not call for help, and instead tried to save himself. 

Kelk, who was disqualified from driving at the time, was convicted of the following six charges from that night: Causing death by dangerous driving, causing death while disqualified, leaving the scene of a collision, failing to report,  driving without insurance and possession of cannabis resin.

Following the accident, after the crash, Kelk ran to a nearby farm where he called for help and was collected by his girlfriend. 

He then escaped to a house in Holbeach before fleeing to a house in Peterborough, where police arrested him, following an attempted escape in which he tried to scale a wall. 

After his release, Kelk will also be disqualified from driving for an additional 8.5 years. 

Mr Jeyes, defending, said that Kelk had told him; "I know it doesn't mean much now but I am sorry. I wish I could tell her how sorry I am. I see her every time I close my eyes. I will never forgive myself for what happened that day."

Previously, Shane Kelk had 22 convictions for 52 offences, including driving with excess alcohol and driving while banned.