Cardiff bike crash – latest: Family of teen killed reveal what started riot after ‘police chase’
Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died in an electric bike crash in Ely on Monday, sparking a night of riots in Cardiff
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Family members of the two boys killed in Cardiff while riding an electric bike have revealed what sparked the riot that followed the teenagers’ deaths.
Following the vigil for Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, attended by a thousand in Ely on Friday night, the younger boy’s aunt and grandmother spoke of the community’s anger at the lack of answers following the revelation of footage of “police chasing” the teenagers on Monday evening, shortly before they died.
CCTV footage of a marked South Wales Police van following the teenagers as they rode a Sur-Ron electric bike quickly spread on social media after the incident, leading to violent clashes and disorder in Ely.
Harvey’s aunt Hayley Murphy and grandmother Dawn Rees have now revealed to the BBC: “We were stood at the barrier and we were begging them, begging them, to tell us if they were alive or dead, and they wouldn’t tell us nothing – and then someone ran into the crowd and said ‘I’ve got a video of the police chasing them’, and that is what started it.
“That’s what got everyone angry, so I understand because we wasn’t getting no answers.”
One Thousand people gather at vigil for two teenagers killed in Ely crash
Around a thousand people have gathered for a vigil at the spot where Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died in a road crash in Ely, Cardiff.
Many mourners are holding blue balloons and wearing white T-shirts adorned with pictures of the two boys, who died when their Sur-Ron electric bike crashed.
The mothers of the teenagers have asked that there be no people on Sur-Ron bikes at this evening’s vigil in Snowden Road.
The families have also requested the police are not present.
Dozens of blue and orange flares have been lit as the families of Harvey and Kyrees arrive on foot at the scene where hundreds of floral tributes and messages have been left since Monday.
Hundreds of blue balloons have also filled the sky in tribute to the teenagers and some fireworks have been set off.
Several people were in tears as the balloons were released and a moment of silence was held before the crowd broke out in applause.
In pictures: Vigil held for two teenagers killed in Ely crash
Explained: How a tragic crash that killed two teens sparked a night of violence
A crash that killed two teenagers appears to have “sparked” the rioting seen in Cardiff on Monday evening, the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales has said.
Police faced what they called “large scale disorder” after receiving reports of a collision on Snowden Road in Ely around 6pm on Monday, with tensions reaching breaking point as cars were set on fire and fireworks were shot at officers.
Alun Michael told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday morning: “My understanding is that there was a road traffic accident involving two teenagers on an off-road bike or scooter and sadly, they died. That’s an incident obviously that is being investigated in its own right.
Tara Cobham reports:
Uncle of Harvey Evans speaks out at vigil
The uncle of Harvey Evans, 15, who died after a crash in Ely, said: “We’re all tarred with the same brush here, especially given what happened on Monday.
“But this is the true Ely. Look how many people have turned out to pay their respects.
“The only difference between Monday and today is that the police aren’t here.”
John O’Driscoll, Harvey Evans’s great-uncle, said: “What happened on Monday with the riot, that was wrong.
“The boys were wrong, but it was out of frustration.
“It was because a lot of the boys get abused by the police around here and so that’s why things kicked off,” Mr O’Driscoll said.
“Harvey was my great nephew, we have a big family and we’re all close.
“They were just young boys. Everyone rides bikes and scooters around here.
“Yes we find them annoying but that’s just what they do, but as soon as those coppers saw they had no helmets they should’ve stopped.”
In pictures: Floral tributes left to teenagers killed in Ely crash
Police release timeline of how minutes before fatal Cardiff crash unfolded
The timeline released by South Wales Police said:
5.59pm: CCTV shows the bike travelling towards the police vehicle in Frank Road, the bike then turns around
6pm: The bike is followed by the police vehicle. Police highlight CCTV images show that there were no blue lights or sirens in use.
6.01pm: Police vehicle is at New Church Ely roundabout and travels through Archer Road, Stanway Road and Howell Road.
6.02.31pm: Police vehicle turns onto Grand Avenue.
6.02.18pm -6.02.41pm: The approximate time of the fatal crash that took place on Snowden Road. At the time of the crash, the police vehicle is in Grand Avenue, half a mile away from Snowden Road, police said.
Joe Middleton reports:
Police release timeline of how minutes before fatal Cardiff crash unfolded
South Wales Police sets out timeline of events at press conference
ICYMI: Police watchdog appeals for witnesses to Ely crash
A police watchdog has appealed for witnesses who saw the moments before two teenagers were killed in road accident.
In a statement released on Friday, Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) director David Ford said: “Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the family and friends of Kyrees and Harvey, as well as all those affected by the loss of two young lives in such a close-knit community as Ely.
“Our investigators have been conducting inquiries and securing evidence in the immediate vicinity of where the events took place, speaking to local residents, distributing leaflets and gathering as much relevant information as possible.
“I am truly grateful for the co-operation and assistance we have received from people within the local community. We would welcome anyone we haven’t yet spoken to yet, who believes they have footage or witnessed anything relevant between 5.35pm and 6.10pm on Monday, to come forward to us.
“We are working hard to establish the exact circumstances of what took place in the period leading up to the collision. I would like to reassure everyone in the community that our work will be thorough, impartial and independent of the police.”
Great uncle of teenager killed in Cardiff crash hits out at police as vigil held
The great-uncle of a 15-year-old killed in a crash in Cardiff has criticised South Wales Police as a vigil was held at the spot where the boy and his best friend died.
Harvey Evans was killed alongside Kyrees Sullivan, 16, when their Sur-Ron electric bike crashed in the Ely area of the city on Monday evening.
John O’Driscoll, Harvey Evans’s great-uncle, said the police “should have stopped” when they saw the two teenage boys were not wearing helmets, as he attended the vigil on Friday evening.
Martha McHardy reports:
Great uncle of teenager killed in Cardiff crash hits out at police as vigil held
John O’Driscoll, Harvey Evans’s great-uncle said the police ‘should have stopped’ when they saw the two teenage boys were not wearing helmets
Families of ‘best friends’ killed in Cardiff crash pay tribute
The families of two teenage best friends killed in a crash in Cardiff that sparked riots have paid tribute, saying their “hearts are truly broken” as they pleaded for “peace within the community”.
Harvey Evans, 15, died alongside Kyrees Sullivan, 16, after the crash in the Ely area on Monday evening.
Their families have now paid tribute to the boys, saying they were “loved by not only their families but by their community as well”.
Harvey’s family said their hearts were “truly broken” over the loss of the “much-loved son, grandson, brother, nephew, friend and boyfriend”.
The statement added: “He lived life to the full, he had a big heart and deep down he truly cared. He was a best friend to Kyrees and our thoughts and prayers are with his family also.
“We ask for peace within the community and request that people leave the investigation to the police so we can get the answers we so desperately need to lay Harvey to rest.
“As Harvey’s mum, I want to remember our son as the fun and loving son that he was, and not as the media are portraying him now.”
Tara Cobham and Joe Middleton report:
‘Our hearts are truly broken’: Families of boys killed in Cardiff crash pay tribute
Two boys were killed in a crash while riding an electric bike in Ely on Monday evening, sparking a riot
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