Family Sentenced for Cover-Up After Teen Hit-and-Run Leaves 5-Year-Old Fighting for Life

A teenager and his family were sentenced to prison after helping him cover up a hit-and-run that left a child seriously injured in Shotton, Wales.

The incident occurred in September 2024, when the teenager, Kaylem Longhurst, now 18, struck and seriously injured a 6-year-old boy, Arlo Buckley, while riding a motorbike off-road.

Buckley was crossing the Central Drive when he was dragged along the ground, leaving him fighting for his life. He was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and underwent months of additional care.

Longhurst fled the scene immediately after the collision. Prosecutors said members of his family later helped him avoid justice by burning his clothing, hiding the motorbike in an alleyway, and driving him away from the area to York, according to reports from Mirror.

Longhurst, who now lives Nantwich, Cheshire, had already admitted to dangerous driving, as well as driving without a license, with inadequate eyesight and driving without insurance. However, he denied preventing the course of justice, along with his mother Terry Follows, and his sister’s former partner, Shane Hunt.

All were convicted following the trial. Longhurst’s sister also admitted her involvement in the conspiracy. All four of them were sentenced on April 14 at Caernarfon Crown Court.

“This was a shocking and seriously distressing incident in which a five-year-old child was left with serious injuries, while the person responsible chose to flee the scene rather than stop and help,” said Katie Davies, temporary detective inspector, North Wales Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit.

“What is particularly concerning is that members of Longhurst’s own family then assisted him in attempting to evade justice, including helping him to leave the area and destroy evidence,” she added. “I would like to thank the family of the victim and the members of the community who came forward with the information.”

Longhurst received three years and nine months in a young offender’s institution after admitting dangerous driving and obstruction of justice.

Terry and Shan were sentenced to two years and four months in prison for helping him flee. His sister received a 12-month suspended sentence for 18 months after admitting her role in the conspiracy.