'He was a teenage boy that made a stupid mistake - and he paid for it with his life'
A grieving mum is speaking out after her son's death in horror crash - just weeks after he'd secretly bought a motorbike.
Claire Leigh, 41, had no idea that her 16-year-old son, Mckenna, had purchased a previously stolen Honda 125 for £180. His parents had previously refused to let him have a bike after the teen refused to do a compulsory basic training course.
In September 2022, Mckenna and a friend secretly purchased a bike and stored it in the woods near the family home in Denton. Two weeks later, while riding it Denton, without a helmet, Mckenna collided with a Vauxhall Vivaro van and died after suffering a cardiac arrest and serious abdominal injuries.
Mckenna's devastated family are speaking out in the hope that their son's tragic passing will act as a warning to others. Mum-of-two Claire said: "Mckenna was a typical teenage boy and was obsessed with bikes.
"Ever since he was little, all he wanted to do was be out on his bike. He was a cheeky lad but had a heart of gold and would always do as he was told.
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"We had no idea that he'd bought a bike - if we had we wouldn't have let him out the house. We'd done all we could as his parents to keep him safe, but we couldn't stop him from going behind our backs. He was a teenage boy that made a stupid mistake. And he paid for it with his life."
McKenna, who has siblings, Talucia, 13 and Charlie, 19 had always been "funny and caring" before his death. He was studying joinery in college and was working hard in his part time job as a joiner.
On the day of his death, 17 September 2022, Mckenna left home around 11.15am on his sister Talucia's push bike. Shortly after, he swapped the bicycle for the hidden motorbike, and picked up a friend outside McDonald's, at Crownpoint, Denton. Just minutes later Mckenna was overtaking slow moving traffic, when he was struck by the van.
Claire said: "The driver of the van was not prosecuted - if anything I feel sorry for him. It was a tragic accident, which has ruined not only our lives, but his as well.
"Before he left that day, I said to him 'please be safe.' I never expected that to be the last thing I'd ever say to him."
Since Mckenna's death, his family, including dad, Darren Smith, 36, a crane driver, hope to speak about road safety in schools in the future.
Claire said: "Mckenna was an amazing boy, and we miss him every day. I really hope that Mckenna's story can act as a warning to other young people.
"Road safety needs to be taken seriously, and you should only ever drive a bike or car if you have a license. Mckenna had his whole life ahead of him, and a dark secret and stupid decision took him away from us."