Bailey Chadwick’s family urge hit-and-run driver to come forward

The family of a 19-year-old man killed in a hit-and-run crash in North Yorkshire have pleaded for the driver responsible to come forward.

Bailey Chadwick was struck by a vehicle on the B6265, between Pateley Bridge and Glasshouses, as he was walking home in the early hours of Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference close to the scene of the collision his mother, Dayle Knights, and stepdad, Daniel Horler, asked the driver to “do the right thing and speak to the police”.

“He should be living his best life, seeing a new country, exploring, meeting new people but instead he was left alone to die,” Mr Horler said.

“Bailey was torn away from us all at such a young age” he added.

“The fact that someone knows who was driving that night is heart-breaking for all of us.

“Please, if it’s you, do the right thing and speak to the police.

“Please, if you have any information which will help trace the person responsible, please help.

“If you’ve any empathy within you whatsoever, it’s the least you could do.”

Bailey had been walking home after spending time with friends in Pateley Bridge at the end of his shift at the Royal Oak pub when he was hit and fatally injured.

North Yorkshire Police said they were interested in speaking to anyone who was in this area between 01:44 and 03:10 BST.

Det Insp Jill Cowling told the conference: “As the driver of this vehicle, you may not have realised at the time you collided with Bailey as he walked home.

“Now is the time to come forward.

“The grief endured by Bailey’s family is further compounded by the fact that the driver has not yet come forward.”

She added an extensive investigation was taking place into the crash, which included reviewing CCTV footage.

“As the driver this is your opportunity to come to us before we come to you,” Det Insp Cowling said.

“If you know who was driving the vehicle which fatally injured Bailey, then please do the right thing and contact us now.

“I am extremely grateful to everyone who has already come forward with information.”

Bailey had been due to go travelling to Thailand this week and, as the police officer in charge of the investigation said, had “a lifetime of adventures ahead of him”.

Friends Harry Owen and Jack Lumley were at the crash site, paying tribute to their friend.

They said he was a “spot on lad”, who loved going out for a drink, football and travelling.

“We used to travel up and down the country watching [Sheffield] Wednesday together,” Harry said.

“I’ll miss doing that but he’ll be there at every away game and home game I go to.”

Jack believes he was the last person to see Bailey before he died.

“I left Pateley Club at about 01:35 BST and started walking up here and stopped at mine,” he said, gesturing to the B6265.

“He carried on walking, which he does every night so I thought nothing of it. About 15 minutes later, this happened.”