Father and Son Convicted Over Northfleet Crash That Killed Toddler
A dad and his son have been found guilty of manslaughter after a horrific crash in Northfleet that claimed the life of a four-year-old boy.
Deadly Road Rage Ends in Tragedy
Owen Maughan, 28, was behind the wheel when he rammed the family’s Ford Ranger off the road at around 60 mph on New Barn Road on June 1, 2025. His father Patrick, 54, sat beside him. The victim, little Peter Maughan, was in the targeted vehicle along with his mum, dad, and sister.
The crash caused the van to overturn, fatally injuring Peter. The father was left with life-changing injuries, while the mother and sister suffered minor harm.
Drunken Pursuit Ends in Disaster
Earlier that day, Owen and Patrick spent hours boozing in Rochester pubs, downing around 12 bottles and 13 pints respectively. A chance encounter on the A2 led to a terrifying tailgate chase captured on dashcam, as Owen followed Peter’s family for miles, driving recklessly.
Both vehicles eventually pulled off at the Pepperhill junction, where tensions boiled over into a verbal row before the deadly collision minutes later.
Flight, Arrest and Justice Served
After the smash, the father and son fled the scene. CCTV caught Patrick removing their number plate before they abandoned the damaged truck in Hextable. A child’s pushchair was trapped beneath it, highlighting the horror of the incident.
Owen turned himself in the next day, while Patrick was arrested days later in Berkshire.
Both men were charged with murder and grievous bodily harm but were ultimately convicted of manslaughter after a three-week trial at Maidstone Crown Court on February 19, 2026. Patrick was also found guilty of causing serious harm to Peter’s father; Owen admitted to this charge.
“This was a devastating and entirely avoidable tragedy,” said Detective Inspector Rachel Elmore. “An innocent child lost his life. A father is now unable to walk. No sentence can undo the pain caused, but we hope this verdict offers some justice and comfort to the family.”
