Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died in an electric bike crash
By Paul Pigott & Stephen Fairclough
BBC News
Two boys who died after an electric bike crash that sparked a riot suffered head injuries, a coroner has been told.
Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and his friend Harvey Evans, 15, died on Snowden Road, Ely, in Cardiff shortly after 18:00 BST on 22 May.
They were found by a member of the public, Pontypridd Coroners Court heard.
Their deaths sparked a riot, with cars set alight and police officers attacked.
The boys were seen riding an electric bike on the road, coroner Patricia Morgan was told.
“A short time later, both were found by a member of the public having come off the bike,” the inquest into their deaths heard.
Post mortem examinations found the provisional cause of death for Kyrees to be “blunt injury to the head,” while Harvey died as a result of “blunt injury to the head and trunk”.
The coroner said the deaths were “violent or unnatural” and an inquest was required, but adjourned for an ongoing police investigation to be concluded.
Image source, Getty Images
Cars were overturned and set on fire during a riot that saw injuries to 15 police officers
Nine people were arrested for allegedly taking part in the riot.
“They were two children who were chased to their death by South Wales Police,” said Hayley Murphy, aunt of Harvey.
Harvey’s aunt and grandmother described him as cheeky but loveable
Police admitted officers had been following the boys before the crash, but said only the bike was involved in the fatal incident.
CCTV from minutes before the crash showed a police van driving at a distance behind the two boys, but the force said its nearest vehicle was half a mile away when the bike crashed.
About 800 family, friends and members of the wider community of Ely attended a vigil and balloon release for the two boys last Friday evening.
Ms Murphy told the BBC after the vigil: “It still doesn’t seem real that we’re here for Harvey and Kyrees.”
Many tributes to the two boys have been left in Ely
She also revealed the electric bike was an early 16th birthday present.
Harvey’s grandmother, Dawn Rees, said Harvey and Kyrees “did everything together, they loved each other like brothers”.
“[Kyrees] was lovely. If I needed milk he went to the shop for me, always asking if I needed anything. A lovely boy,” she added.
