Witnesses sought 7 years on

Published 12th Feb 2016

Police are appealing for five potential witnesses to a collision that happened seven years ago to come forward.

In 2009, on Thursday, February 12, Kane Howey Scales was hit by a Volkswagen Passat on the northbound carriageway of the A1018 Newcastle Road in Sunderland.

Kane, who was 15 and from the Roker area of Sunderland, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital, however, unfortunately he died from his injuries a day later.

Police carried out an investigation into the collision and a report was prepared for the coroner.

The investigation concluded that the collision was an accident and that there were no charges brought against any of the parties involved, a subsequent inquest by HM Coroner ruled Kane's death was accidental.

However, Kane's family still have unanswered questions around the collision and police are endeavouring to help them find answers.

As such, and to coincide with the seven year anniversary of the incident, police are appealing for five potential witnesses, who visited Simply Food and Drinks on Newcastle Road, to come forward as they may be able to help. It's not believed the witnesses were spoken to at the time of the initial investigation.

Images of the witnesses police are keen to identify are being released in they hope they come forward.

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Chief Inspector Nicola Musgrove said:

"We know that despite our initial investigation and an Inquest by HM Coroner, Kane's family still has unanswered questions around what happened on the night Kane died and we want to help find them these answers.

It is incredibly distressing losing a child and we can't begin to imagine what Kane's family have been through and how what happened seven years ago changed their lives irrevocably.

We're renewing our appeal seven years on in the hope that we can help them find the answers they need and help them to find some closure to this incredibly tragic incident. We have identified five witnesses who were not spoken to at the time of our enquiries and I would please ask these people, or anyone who knows who they are, to please come forward and speak to us."

The people pictured, or anyone who recognises them is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 101 and quote reference 1557 120209.