Father Expresses Anger Over Hit-and-Run Incident
The father of an eight-year-old boy who sustained life-threatening injuries after being struck by a motorbike has spoken about the ongoing anger he feels toward the rider who fled the scene.
Danny Buckley shared that he thinks about the crash involving his son Arlo "most nights". The incident occurred in September 2024 when Arlo was hit and dragged along the road as he tried to cross the street in Shotton, Flintshire.
Kaylem Longhurst, 18, from Nantwich, Cheshire, admitted to dangerous driving related to the crash and was found guilty on Friday of attempting to evade justice.
"I would have been a bit more compassionate towards Kaylem if he did stop and he did help my son who was lying there unconscious," Buckley said.
"But because he left him there and just to pick his motorbike up and push it down the street like nothing has happened, it doesn't sit well with me at all."
Witness Account and Emergency Response
Buckley was at work approximately 90 minutes away when he received a call from Arlo's 12-year-old sister Olivia, who witnessed the crash on Central Drive.
"Arlo's been hit by a motorbike, but the guy's drove off and left him," Olivia told him.
By the time Buckley arrived, emergency services had cordoned off the street and paramedics were attending to Arlo.
"I couldn't believe what was happening, and I just remember going straight to the back of the ambulance," he recalled.
Medical Treatment and Injuries
At the scene, Arlo suffered a seizure and was placed into an induced coma before being airlifted to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, with his father accompanying him.
At the time of the crash, Arlo was six years old and had sustained multiple serious injuries.
"He had a broken femur, he had multiple skull fractures behind his left ear, he had bruising on the brain, he also had some fractures on his pelvis and he had a broken left shoulder as well," Buckley detailed.
At the hospital, Arlo underwent scans and a procedure to relieve pressure on his brain. He remained in an induced coma in intensive care for five days.
During this time, Buckley stayed with Arlo at night, while his mother was present during the day.
Arlo was later diagnosed with a blocked artery in the back of his neck supplying blood to the brain and was prescribed blood thinners to reduce stroke risk.
Connection with Air Ambulance Pilot
Buckley reflected on the relationship he formed with the air ambulance pilot, John, who was also a father.
"I developed quite a close relationship with John because he was a father himself.
He even said to me, a few months later, 'that case will always stay with me', and it was one of the worst he's been to over his career."
Buckley added that John told him he had gone home that night and "shed a tear for Arlo".
Recovery and Long-Term Effects
Arlo spent approximately three and a half weeks in hospital before being discharged. Since the incident, he has developed epilepsy and takes medication to control seizures.
Buckley noted that the brain injury has affected Arlo's behavior and personality, making him more short-tempered, easily frustrated, and fatigued.
"I did see the brain scans at the hospital and there was a lot of bruising on his brain," he said.
"He's not the same boy in school you know, they remember Arlo being this gentle calm boy and now they've seen a real difference in him.
It's just he's not the same child as he used to be," he added.
Arlo has gradually returned to school over the 18 months since the crash, initially attending two days a week with additional support. Buckley praised the school's "absolutely fantastic" assistance.
The trauma has also impacted the wider family. Olivia has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and both she and her mother have undergone specialist counseling.
Legal Proceedings and Family Impact
Buckley expressed difficulty in accepting that while Arlo was in intensive care, Longhurst and his family attempted to conceal his involvement in the crash.
"They took him to York, they burnt clothing, they hid his motorbike and all this is going on while my son's lying in an ICU bed," he said.
Longhurst admitted to dangerous driving related to the crash. However, he and three others, including his mother Terry Follows, 42, denied conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
On Friday, Longhurst, Follows, and Shane Hunt, the ex-partner of Longhurst's sister, were found guilty of perverting the course of justice by plotting to remove Longhurst from the area to avoid arrest. A fourth defendant, Dane Longhurst, was found not guilty.
Cara Haran, Longhurst's older sister, had already pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy.
Judge Simon Mills stated that the three defendants showed "no remorse" regarding Arlo Buckley. He noted the motorbike should never have been on the road and indicated it was inevitable that Longhurst would serve time in a young offender institution, considering he was 16 at the time of the crash.
Family's Focus on Rehabilitation
The Buckley family has stated their priority is ensuring Arlo receives the specialist support he requires.
