A mother from Leicestershire has revealed how her life was completely shattered after a hit-and-run driver left her for dead nearly a decade ago, in a case that remains unsolved.
A Life Changed in an Instant
Kayley Hicken, then 35, was waiting for a taxi outside her friend's house in Thurmaston, Leicestershire, on the evening of 17 December 2016. Without warning, a white VW Golf mounted the pavement and struck her, dragging the mother-of-one beneath the vehicle in a violent collision.
The driver immediately fled the scene, abandoning Kayley with catastrophic injuries. She suffered a traumatic brain injury, a fractured leg, a shattered pelvis, a ruptured liver, and severe internal haemorrhaging. Her injuries were so severe that her family was told she was on the brink of death.
The Long Road to an 'Unexpected' Recovery
Defying all odds, Kayley survived. She spent a week in a coma and a further two months in hospital, where medical professionals described her as an 'unexpected survivor'.
Her recovery has been a long and painful journey. The former carer was forced to give up the profession she had just started training for, as she could no longer care for herself, let alone others. 'The collision changed everything in an instant,' Kayley said. 'I suffered multiple injuries and the recovery has been long, painful, and exhausting - physically and emotionally.'
She described waking up in hospital surrounded by tubes and realising the gravity of her situation. 'It wasn't a case of staying in hospital and recovering to go home. That was only the start of it,' she added.
A Search for Justice and a New Beginning
Despite a lengthy investigation by Leicestershire Police and several arrests, nobody has ever been prosecuted for the crime. A police spokesperson confirmed the case remains undetected, though any new information would be pursued.
Nearly nine years on, Kayley continues to live with chronic pain, especially in her left leg, which severely affects her mobility. There is a possibility she may require further surgery and could need a wheelchair in the future. She also battles ongoing psychological trauma from the event.
Kayley has now been awarded an undisclosed settlement from the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), which provides compensation to victims of untraced drivers. This vital financial support will enable her to access specialist rehabilitation and relocate into a home of her own.
She remains angry at the driver's actions. 'I'll always be angry at the driver and what they did, especially driving off and leaving me for dead,' Kayley stated. 'Clearly, they have no conscience.'
By sharing her story during Road Safety Week, Kayley, who is a mother to a 13-year-old son named Lukah, hopes to offer hope to others and encourage greater care on the roads. 'I hope that it will make others think twice,' she said.
Her solicitor, Kelly Lingard of Irwin Mitchell, noted that the case 'vividly highlights the devastating consequences of crashes' and how lives can be destroyed in a split second.
