Pillion passenger died in 44mph crash

A teenager killed his 14-year-old pillion passenger while riding a moped at up to 44mph without helmets, a court heard.

Kai Holder, 19, was riding the Honda scooter with Bradlee Alboni-Odell sat behind him on Bedfont Lane, Feltham, west London, on 10 August 2019.

Holder was filmed by a CCTV camera looking behind him just before the moped collided with the kerb at around twice the 20mph speed limit, between 37-44mph, jurors heard.

Bradlee was ‘flipped’ off the back of the moped before landing in the road and hitting a junction box, suffering fatal injuries.

London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended the scene but sadly medics could not save Bradlee’s life, and he was pronounced dead at 7.36pm, jurors heard.

A post-mortem found Bradlee had suffered significant injuries to his head and spine.

Holder, who was 17 at the time, survived with relatively minor bruising, and later told police: ‘If I am honest with you I do not remember anything.’

Prosecutor Hamish Common said: ‘Mr Holder’s friend Bradlee Alboni-Odell was riding pillion.

‘Neither were wearing helmets.

‘An experienced rider should be aware that carrying a pillion passenger affects the stability and use of the machine.

‘An experienced rider knows that when one looks over one’s shoulder the machine tends to drift off of a straight line in that direction.’

Holder was taken to West Middlesex Hospital for treatment, where he was given an arm sling and a CT scan, jurors heard.

‘He was very confused and his one arm was in a lot of pain.

‘He kept on asking officers why they were at the hospital looking for him.

‘It was explained that he had been involved in an accident, and they were concerned for his welfare.’

Holder, of Richmond, Surrey, denies death by dangerous driving, but admits causing death by careless driving.

Dressed in a black shirt, orange tie, and a cream puffer jacket, Holder showed no emotion as Mr Common addressed the jury.

The trial continues.