A HIT and run driver is expected to be jailed today for killing a six-year-old boy.

Peter Renshaw, 22, of Emley, was driving his Fiat Seicento at nearly double the speed limit when he fatally struck Owen Wightman as he crossed a road.

Members of Owen’s family, who were at Leeds Crown Court yesterday, sobbed as they were told that if Renshaw had been travelling at 30mph, in all likelihood the boy would have survived the crash.

Owen died after being struck by Renshaw’s car in Fishpond Lane, Wakefield.

And yesterday, he admitted two further charges against him, after earlier pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC heard evidence in the form of a Newton hearing yesterday morning which covered events leading up to the tragic incident on June 18 last year.

But after the prosecution opening, and a break in proceedings, Renshaw then entered guilty pleas to two further charges.

He admitted failing to stop at the scene of the accident and that he failed to report the accident within reasonable time to the police.

He had previously admitting killing Owen, who was thrown 23 metres during the high speed impact, after he had been playing close to his home with another young boy.

The court heard the defendant barely slowed down after the collision, instead turning into a side road and assessing the damage.

He waited three days before turning himself in to West Yorkshire Police claiming he had hit a pothole or branch.

Prosecutor Patrick Palmer told the court two witnesses saw Renshaw’s light blue vehicle stopped in Haveroid Lane, some yards from the scene.

They said he got out and assessed the damage.

Mr Palmer submitted evidence from Diane Parton, who was out jogging at the time and had seen two boys on the grass verge then heard a ‘loud bang’.

She then saw a silver or blue car make a left turn into Haveroid Lane and stop two or three metres away.

The prosecution then told how CCTV footage from an Arriva bus near the collision showed ‘no signs of braking’ on the Fiat’s rear.

Steven Green, a senior Collision Investigator for West Yorkshire, told the court Renshaw was travelling at approximately 57mph.

He said the two boys would have been clearly visible for two to three seconds before impact. But at 30mph this would increase to five to six seconds to impact.

Mr Palmer read from the investigation report: “If the defendant had been travelling within the speed limit Owen would have survived.

“Owen would have had more time to cross the road.

“A careful driver travelling within the speed limit would slow down approaching the brow of a hill.”

The court went on to look at the damage caused to Renshaw’s car.

Mr Green said after examining more than 500 fatal road traffic collisions it was ‘highly unusual’ that damage had occurred with ‘repeated scratching’ consistent with striking a sharp object.

The prosecution alleged that Renshaw attempted to cover up damage caused in the fatal crash.

But on hearing Renshaw’s guilty pleas to the two further charges Judge Marson said whether or not the damage was done after the tragic accident, the fact was that Renshaw had gone to the police station to report the crash.

He added: “I would not regard it as necessary to adjudicate on the damage.”

Judge Marson then referred to his earlier indication to Renshaw when he indicated a likely custodial sentence.

He released him on bail, simply saying: “You know what to expect.”