'My son died in crash after his dad collapsed at the wheel - his final act still haunts me'

A woman was left heartbroken after her son was killed following a five-year-long custody battle with her ex-partner.

Kim Morgan spent five long years battling for custody of her son Ryan-Liam Morgan, 14, when tragedy struck when he was killed by his father, Daniel Burba, 32, in a motorway crash on April 20. Burba, high on cocaine at the time, lost control of the van after suffering an epileptic fit, and Ryan-Liam tried desperately to grab the wheel in the moments before the fatal collision.

Burba, 32, who had no licence or insurance, was jailed for 10 years earlier this month. But Kim was horrified to learn he could be eligible for release in six-and-a-half years and might even regain the right to drive. She is now campaigning for “Ryan’s Law,” which would ensure drivers who kill while intoxicated can never get behind the wheel again.

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Ryan-Liam was the eldest of Kim’s three children and had dreams of becoming a police officer.

A keen football fan and talented dancer, he loved Liverpool FC and adored his younger sisters. Kim described him as affectionate, protective, and gentle.

The family’s troubles began soon after Ryan-Liam’s birth. Kim recalled that Burba initially appeared interested but quickly lost interest in fatherhood.

She said he spent his money on drugs and partying rather than supporting his son, and their relationship ended when Ryan was four. Despite this, Ryan maintained sporadic contact with his father through extended family visits.

In early 2020, Burba invited Ryan-Liam to spend a weekend with him. Kim, hoping it would help the boy form a bond, agreed. But the Covid-19 lockdown complicated matters, and Burba began restricting contact between mother and son.

Over the following four years, Kim fought through the courts for access, often not knowing where her son lived, or if her letters, money, and gifts reached him.

In early 2025, Kim finally heard that Ryan-Liam might be returning home, a prospect that filled her with hope. Tragically, before that could happen, he was killed. Kim describes the moment she received the news as devastating, recalling seeing a news alert about a serious motorway crash.

“Ryan was a lovely boy, my eldest child and only son,” Kim told The Sun. “Daniel had no driving licence, no insurance, he was high on drugs, and yet he drove on the motorway with my son. Ryan must have been so scared, trying to save their lives.”

Kim, 38, from Kendal, Cumbria, has vowed to fight for changes to protect others from similar tragedies. She recently applied to appeal Burba’s sentence, but her request was denied. She believes current sentencing laws fail to adequately prevent repeat offenders from endangering lives.

“Nothing will bring my son back, but I hope I can save other lives in his memory,” Kim added.

Kim hopes her campaign for “Ryan’s Law” will prevent any other parent from experiencing the pain she endures daily.