The youngest victim of the triple fatal crash of M606 was left to fight for his life in another crash last year, it became clear.
18-year-old Kayden Ladybitter was left on a life-sustaining machine after the crash in September 2021.
Understandably, he was seriously injured in an accident involving a suspected stolen quad bike and truck near Skipton.
His sister wrote on Facebook last month: “Happy birthday to my little brother.
“Months ago, you were on a life-sustaining machine, fighting for your life after a severe accident, and now you’re 18 and you’re in good health with just one arm, haha.
I will never take a day for granted after experiencing that day, as it was when the police knocked on the door to say that you were in lgi with “broken legs but stable”, after which I received a phone call to say you got it wrong, you’re on a life support machine and you’ve died twice.
“And when I heard Dad broke on that phone when he called us after seeing you, and then they pulled you out in 2 minutes, hearing him cry so much, saying you were so much worse, I’m so grateful of life.
She said he would become a “fantastic uncle.”
An earlier post on October 5 said, “I’m above the moon. Two weeks ago, our lives changed dramatically. He crashes and fights for his life.
“He is at home now. In pain, but at home and alive. ”
Emergency services rushed to the M606 crash late Monday night after a Ford Transit minibus traveling the wrong way – believed to have been stolen – crashed into a taxi, leaving driver Sohail Ali, 28, and his passenger Simon McHugh, 49, dead.
Kaiden was a passenger in the van.
A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of causing dangerous deaths and was hospitalized yesterday with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Another passenger in the van, a 17-year-old boy, is also in hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
A reference has been made to the Independent Police Conduct Service (IOPC).
A spokesman said: “We received a mandatory referral from the West Yorkshire Police Department due to the fact that one of the vehicles, a van Ford Transit, took off and went around the wrong way at a roundabout shortly before the collision.
“The van, which is suspected to have been stolen, then entered the M606, traveling in the wrong direction, where it collided with a taxi.
“We sent investigators to the scene to assess the situation and procedures after the incident.
“We have received initial information from the police and are in the process of collecting and reviewing footage of the incident.
“The evidence available at the moment shows that the police did not follow the van in the wrong way on the highway.
IOPC Regional Director Thea Walton said: “It was a tragic accident that killed three people. Our thoughts are with everyone affected.
“We understand that this will cause serious concern in the community and I would like to assure people that there will be a thorough, independent investigation to find out exactly what happened.
“We will contact the families as soon as possible to explain our role and how our inquiries will develop.
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