A ‘one in a million’ aspiring doctor was killed on a pedestrian crossing by a motorist driving at 80mph in a 30mph zone, a court heard.
Ashton Kitchen-White died at the scene after being struck by a Ford Focus ST in Leeds on May 16 this year.
The 19-year-old was getting ready to begin studying to become a doctor at Leeds University at the time of his death.
Jurors heard Mr Kitchen-White was crossing the road in Leeds – which has a speed limit of 30mph – when Regan Kemp, 26, mowed him down while travelling at 80mph then fled the scene.
Kemp is on trial at Leeds Crown Court where he is charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
He denies being the driver and claimed the vehicle was being driven by his friend as they tried to broker a swap deal for a VW Golf GTD.
Mr Kitchen-White’s family paid tribute following his death, saying he was, ‘one in a million’.
The statement said: ‘Loved by all his family and friends alike and adored by his brother and two sisters.
Ashton Kitchen-White (pictured) at the time of his death was getting ready to start studying to become a doctor at Leeds University
‘At 19 he was about to embark on his journey to become a doctor at Leeds University. He loved going to the gym and combat sports.
‘We cannot express the sheer devastation we all feel.
‘Although his life was cruelly taken from us he will always be remembered for the absolutely beautiful soul that he was.’
Opening the case for the Crown, Paul Mitchell said that Kemp – who is from Cornwall but was travelling from Scotland – came to West Yorkshire on the evening of Friday, May 16.
The court heard he drove the Ford Focus while his two friends were in convoy in a Mini Cooper.
Mr Mitchell said Kemp then picked up a man from Leeds, who was interested in the car, for a test drive after arriving in the city at night.
The prosecutor said Kemp was behind the wheel and was ‘showing off’, accelerating at high speed and moving through the gears.
He reached speeds up to 80mph on Ring Road Beeston – a 30mph zone – where Mr Kitchen-White was on a pelican crossing.
Harrowing footage taken on a mobile from a backseat passenger was played to the jury which caught the screeching car accelerating hard, with someone heard commenting that it was ‘crazy fast’.
Pictured: Beeston Park Ring Road close to where Ashton Kitchen-White was struck by a Ford Focus ST in Leeds on May 16 this year
A huge thud is then heard as the car ploughs into Mr Kitchen-White.
Mr Mitchell says the footage ‘clearly’ shows Kemp driving and added that the driver also has a south-west accent, which could only be Kemp, given that his two accompanying friends are Scottish.
After hitting Mr Kitchen-White, the car was allegedly abandoned moments later.
CCTV footage showed the badly-damaged Ford pulling up, with Mr Mitchell saying it was Kemp who is then seen getting out of the driver’s side.
Only Kemp’s fingerprints were later found in the Focus.
He then runs back to the street where the Mini Cooper was parked, climbed in and left with his friends, heading back to Scotland.
Kemp then travelled to his home in St Just, Penzance.
It was revealed Kamp handed himself into the police four days later where he was taken back to Leeds but then refused to answer police questions.
Mr Mitchell told the jury Mr Ashton-White ‘had no chance’ because of the ‘grossly-excessive speed’ at which the Ford was being driven.
He added: ‘The Crown say Kemp was the driver of the car and his dangerous driving was responsible for Ashton’s death.
‘He denies being the driver and attempts to switch the blame to another man..’
The trial continues.
