Father and Son Consumed 25 Pints Before Fatal 60mph Ramming Crash That Killed Four-Year-Old Boy
A father and son drank a staggering 25 beers between them before a horrific 60mph crash that killed a four-year-old boy, a court has heard in a tragic case that has shocked the local community. The incident, which unfolded in Dartford, Kent, resulted in the death of young Peter Maughan, who was thrown from a vehicle during the collision.
Day of Drinking Preceded Deadly Confrontation
Patrick Maughan, aged 54, and his son Owen Maughan, 27, are alleged to have spent the day consuming alcohol at two pubs in Rochester, Kent, prior to the fatal crash. According to evidence presented to the jury at Maidstone Crown Court, Owen consumed approximately 12 bottles of beer, while Patrick drank about 13 pints. The pair then embarked on a journey home in a Ford Ranger pick-up truck on June 1 last year, setting the stage for a devastating sequence of events.
Chase and Ramming at High Speed
As the father and son travelled along the A2, they encountered Owen's cousin, Hayley, who was in a different pick-up truck driven by her partner, Lovell Mahon. The court heard that the couple's children, Peter, aged 4, and Annarica Maughan, just 1 year old, were also passengers in the vehicle. Prosecutors described how Owen and Patrick became "very angry" and began hurling abuse, with Owen's driving becoming increasingly erratic during a chase that spanned several miles.
Hayley recorded clips of the pursuit and left a voice message for her mother, expressing fear and describing Patrick Maughan as being "ready to explode". Despite Lovell Mahon's attempts to signal that there were children in the vehicle and his offer to go to the Maughans' home to resolve the situation, the confrontation escalated dramatically.
Deliberate Ramming and Fatal Consequences
The court was told that Owen ignored pleas for calm and instead called Hayley's brother, Jason, to declare his intention to ram the other truck. In what prosecutor Richard Jory KC described as a "deliberate ramming at high speed", Owen drove in the wrong lane and clipped the back of the Mahons' vehicle at 60mph, causing it to roll over. Mr Jory stated that Owen had "used his car as a weapon to ram the other vehicle off the road".
Tragically, four-year-old Peter was ejected from the pick-up truck during the crash. He sustained severe and devastating injuries to his chest, head, and abdomen, with the jury hearing that there was no chance of survival, even with immediate medical intervention. His father, Lovell Mahon, suffered serious injuries, including a skull fracture, and it is unlikely he will ever walk again.
Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
Following the collision, the father and son allegedly drove away from the scene, stopping only to remove the registration plate from their truck. In a further distressing detail, a buggy from the family's car became jammed under the Maughans' vehicle and was dragged along until the car was eventually parked.
Owen Maughan has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Peter, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Lovell Mahon. He accepts that he deliberately rammed the other vehicle and drove dangerously, but disputes any intent to cause injury to the occupants. Both Owen and Patrick deny charges of murder, with Patrick also contesting allegations of encouraging or assisting his son. The trial has been adjourned until Tuesday, with the main issue being the defendants' state of mind at the time of the incident.
