**Grieving Family Speaks After Fatal Zebra Crossing Collision Claims Teenage Schoolgirl’s Life in Cardiff**
A heartbroken family has spoken of their devastation after a 15-year-old girl, Keely Morgan, tragically lost her life when she was struck by a car as she walked across a pedestrian crossing in Cardiff. The incident, which occurred barely two years after Keely underwent a life-saving kidney transplant, has left her family “broken beyond repair” according to moving courtroom statements.
Keely, described as a courageous teenager who battled kidney failure throughout her childhood, was killed on the evening of May 1, 2023, while returning home. The collision happened on Heol Trelai in the Caerau area of Cardiff. Despite her ordeal with illness and subsequent transplant at age 13, Keely had begun embracing life with renewed vigour, only for her hopes and plans to be cut short in a matter of moments.
The driver behind the wheel, 42-year-old Christopher West, had been travelling with his two daughters and another passenger. The sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court revealed that West had asked his daughters if he should remove the speed-limiting “black box” from his Vauxhall Astra before setting off, to which he then proceeded. Witnesses recounted seeing West driving at a speed described as “a little fast” and “snaking” his car along the road prior to the collision.
Tragically, as Keely crossed the zebra crossing—earphones in, listening to her iPad—she was struck by West’s vehicle. Residents nearby heard the impact, with one man immediately running to assist the injured girl as West, now described as deeply emotional, was heard exclaiming, “I have just hit her – I am so sorry. I didn’t see her, it was too dark.” Emergency services arrived and attempted to resuscitate Keely, but she sustained fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at 10.02pm.
West, who stayed at the scene, tested negative for both drugs and alcohol. In his police interview, he claimed his view of the crossing was obstructed by a road sign and that he hadn’t seen Keely until it was too late. He subsequently pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.
The loss has sent shockwaves through Keely’s immediate and extended family, who described in court the lifelong toll her death would take. Her mother, Sian Morgan, spoke of shattered dreams and promises: “On May 1, 2023, my world fell apart. Keely was at a place she should have been safe, simply making her way home. She fought so hard to have the joy of being a teenager… but those dreams have been cruelly stolen in an instant.”
Sian painted a picture of a young girl who met adversity with bravery and positivity, never letting her illness define her. She lamented the empty room in their home and the silence left by a daughter whose laughter and presence once filled the family’s lives. “Every day I wake up and relive a nightmare,” she said, describing how birthdays and holidays now serve as painful reminders rather than celebrations.
Other family members echoed the considerable sense of loss. Keely’s grandmother, Maria Wilson, described the pain of learning of her granddaughter’s death as like having “my heart ripped out”. She recalled Keely’s resilience and optimism during long months of illness and expressed grief at milestones now missed—GCSEs, prom, and simple family gatherings. “Our family has a massive hole in it that can never be filled,” Maria said through tears.
Keely’s grandfather, Ian Wilson, recalled her kindness and enthusiasm for life and music, remarking on how her “energy filled the room” and the unbearable void left in her absence. He shared personal struggles with depression since her death and noted the impact across their large, close-knit family.
Keely’s younger brother—aged just 13—offered his thoughts through a statement, describing his sister as not only family but his “best friend”. He remembered her unbreakable spirit facing illness and the unjust loss of all she had fought so hard to reclaim. “I miss her every single day and the family is not the same without her,” he said.
During the hearing, West’s defence counsel acknowledged his client’s profound remorse, noting the burden he would carry for the rest of his life. Judge Paul Hobson adjourned sentencing to allow further consideration, with proceedings set to resume on July 17 at Cardiff Crown Court.
Keely Morgan’s story is not just a tale of individual tragedy, but a stark reminder of the responsibilities held by all drivers, especially around crossings designed to protect vulnerable road users. The case has cast a long shadow over her community and stands as a sobering warning about the consequences of careless decisions behind the wheel.