A TEENAGE dad-of-three is in a critical condition after being hit by a motorbike while attending a funeral with 140 people during coronavirus lockdown.
Aaron Smith, 17, was airlifted to hospital after suffering catastrophic head injuries on Thursday morning in Murston, near Sittingbourne in Kent.
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Loved ones described him online as a “lovely young fella” who loved to play guitar.
Aaron was believed to have been attending the funeral of Bill Rye when the crash happened at 10.40am on Thursday.
Police say two men aged 24 and 32 have been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving without a licence and remain in custody.
I'm going to miss you singing to me Aaron. I still can't believe it.
Social media reports last night initially suggested the victim had died after the crash but Kent Police this morning confirmed he remained in a critical condition in hospital.
A Gofundme page titled For Aaron stated: "We are raising money for his family.
"He was taken too soon and left behind three babies and a loving wife. We need to do this in his memory."
Donations to the page have since been disabled after more than £3,000 was raised.
One pal said: ""Always loved listening to him sing and play guitar. Always would help anybody. A lovely young fella and old-fashioned boy."
'VERY LITTLE NOTICE'
Kent Police said they had been given "very little notice" over the Sittingbourne funeral – meaning they were unable to speak to attendees before the service and encourage them to observe social distancing.
Under the coronavirus lockdown measures, only immediate family members are allowed to attend funeral services.
And a witness said they were shocked to see dozens of people descend on the service at the Garden of England Crematorium on Thursday morning.
Since the incident, police said they had wanted to "strike a balance" between allowing people to grieve while protecting the community from potential health concerns.
Chief Inspector Neil Loudon said: "Kent Police was afforded very little notice about this large gathering and, as such, a decision was made to allow the funeral to go ahead during what was no doubt a difficult time for those who had lost a loved one.
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"Officers' priority was to maintain a presence while offering protection to the wider community around any health concerns they may have had.
"Those who have been identified as attending the ceremony and not adhering to the public health advice will be contacted in due course and reminded of their personal responsibilities during these unprecedented times."
He said that during the gathering – which involved "large numbers of motorcyclists" – some "disruptive" and "anti-social riding" was reported.
Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit has started conducting enquiries into the circumstances.
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It comes as it was warned funerals could be shortened to 20-minute slots as crematoriums struggle to cope with the spike in coronavirus deaths.
More than 14,000 people in the UK have been killed by the deadly bug, with more than 100,000 cases up and down the country.
In the US, bereaved families have even been asked to bring their own shovels to burials, which are already scarcely attended because of statewide lockdowns.
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