A driver under the influence of multiple drugs and alcohol handed police officers a bottle of beer just moments after a catastrophic crash that claimed the life of a teenage girl. The shocking incident, which unfolded in Fochriw, South Wales, in July 2022, has been detailed in court proceedings and featured in a recent television series.
Fatal Collision on Country Road
Keilan Roberts, then aged 21, was behind the wheel of a car that would have failed an MOT inspection when it collided with railings on a cattle grid along a rural route. His passenger, 17-year-old Chloe Hayman, sustained fatal chest injuries in the impact and was pronounced dead at the scene. Toxicology reports later revealed that Roberts was impaired by a cocktail of substances, including cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy, and alcohol at the time of the accident.
Bizarre Scene Captured on Camera
Body-worn footage from responding officers, now showcased in the series '999: What Happened Next', captured Roberts holding a bottle of Peroni beer. In the video, he admits to consuming alcohol in the immediate aftermath of the collision, stating, "I was driving home. I had four bottles of Peroni in my car and that happened. I will be honest with you. Soon as that happened, I drank it all at once." He further acknowledges his impaired state, predicting he would fail breathalyser tests.
Victim's Final Hours and Family's Anguish
Chloe Hayman had been out with friends at a nightclub earlier that evening. After her friends departed and her phone battery died, leaving her unable to contact anyone, Roberts offered her a lift home. Initially, his friends were driving, with plans for Roberts to take Chloe home in the morning. However, they were dropped off at his parked car, and Roberts decided to drive immediately, leading to the fatal crash.
Chloe's mother, Danielle O'Halloran, expressed profound grief, saying, "I thought time was meant to heal but this isn't the case when you lose a child. If anything, it hurts more and more each day." She described being utterly broken by her daughter's tragic death.
Legal Proceedings and Sentence
Roberts pleaded guilty to four counts of causing death by careless driving while under the influence, with each charge corresponding to a different substance he had consumed. His initial sentence of three years and nine months was increased to five years and three months in September 2023 following an appeal. Despite this, he has recently been released from prison on licence, sparking discussions about sentencing for such offences.
This case underscores the devastating consequences of drug-impaired driving and has prompted calls for stricter enforcement and public awareness campaigns to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
