A father and son have been convicted of manslaughter after deliberately smashing a family’s car off the road, killing a four-year-old boy in Northfleet.
Deadly Road Rage Rampage
On Sunday 1 June 2025, Owen Maughan, 28, was driving his Ford Ranger with his dad, Patrick Maughan, 54, riding shotgun. They were chasing another Ford Ranger carrying young Peter Maughan, 4, along with his mum, dad, and sister.
Suddenly, Owen smashed into the family’s vehicle at around 60mph on New Barn Road, sending it flipping over. Peter was fatally injured. His father sustained life-changing injuries while his mum and sister escaped with minor wounds.
Dashcam footage shows Owen tailgating and aggressively pursuing the family for miles along the A2. The terrified family tried to flee but couldn’t shake their attackers. They stopped side by side at Pepperhill junction, exchanging heated words just moments before the deadly crash.
Horrific Aftermath and Court Verdict
Paramedics rushed the injured children and woman to hospital, but little Peter tragically died despite emergency care.
Before the police arrived, Owen and Patrick fled the scene. CCTV later showed Patrick removing their car’s number plate. The damaged Ford was found abandoned in Hextable, with a child’s pushchair trapped underneath.
Owen handed himself in the next day. Patrick was arrested two days later in Berkshire.
They faced charges of murder, grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, and attempted GBH with intent.
After a three-week trial at Maidstone Crown Court, they were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter. Patrick was also found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Peter’s father, a charge Owen admitted earlier.
