Daniel Boucher, 28, denies causing the death of David Chaplin, 66, in Nelson, Caerphilly, as a result of dangerous driving but admits careless driving.
A driver who caused the death of a pedestrian who was out walking his dogs was speeding and “showing off”, a court has heard. The victim suffered multiple traumatic injuries and died at the roadside.
Daniel Boucher, 28, struck and killed 66-year-old David Chaplin after he lost control of his red Peugeot 207 which left the road as he failed to negotiate a left bend. The car rolled onto its side and struck Mr Chaplin who was later found unconscious on a grass verge.
A trial at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard Boucher, of New Road, Argoed, Caerphilly, admits causing the death of Mr Chaplin by careless driving but denies his actions amounted to dangerous driving. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter.
Opening the case to the jury, prosecutor Owen Williams said the defendant worked for a window cleaning firm based in Nelson, Caerphilly and was leaving premises at Whitebeam industrial estate at around 5.10pm on April 18, 2023 when the collision occurred.
The trial heard he had been speaking to colleague Scott Williams about his Peugeot 207 and his love for cars. He had told Mr Williams his Peugeot was “turbo-charged” and had brake horsepower between 165 and 170.
Upon leaving the industrial estate, Boucher was said to have repeatedly rev his engine for no apparent reason, with Mr Williams suggesting the defendant was “showing off.”
He appeared to rev his engine again as he left the industrial estate with Scott Williams following on behind.
As he reached a junction onto Ty Du Road, it is the prosecution’s case Boucher took a left at speed and accelerated as he made the turn.
Prosecutor Mr Williams said the defendant was travelling “way too fast” to negotiate the bend.
At this point Scott Williams saw a man walking towards them on the pavement walking two dogs. He later learnt this man was David Chaplin.
As he took the left bend Boucher was said to “oversteer” and his rear tires lost grip, causing the vehicle to slide sideways across the road and head towards the pavement.
The Peugeot mounted the pavement while sideways at an angle and collided with a lamppost, causing the vehicle to flip onto its side and come to a stop on a grass verge on the driver’s side.
Scott Williams ran to help Boucher and opened the passenger door to help him climb out of the vehicle. He was in a state of shock and had an injury to his head.
The men then saw Mr Chaplin lying on his back on the grass verge and was unconscious. He was breathing but had been seriously injured.
Scott Williams called an ambulance and briefly returned to his workplace to get help as Boucher remained at the scene of the collision with Mr Chaplin.
Paramedics and police later arrived and took over Mr Chaplin’s treatment but despite their best efforts he was pronounced dead at the scene. A cause of death was later given as multiple traumatic injuries.
Police officers attended Boucher’s workplace, where he had been told to go by those at the scene, and he was arrested.
He told officers “I lost control of the car” and confirmed he was driving over the speed limit. He did not respond to his arrest and cautioned but he later said: “What have I done, I’m sorry.”
A forensic collision investigation was carried out on Ty Du Road concluded the defendant had lost control of the Peugeot as a result of “lift off oversteer.”
The maximum speed a vehicle could navigate the left hand bend and remain in its own lane was calculated at 51mph.
It is estimated the Peugeot was travelling between 45mph and 50mph around the time of the collision, but at this stage the vehicle was decelerating. No defects were found to the vehicle.
Concluding his opening, prosecutor Mr Williams said: “(The defendant) drove dangerously and thereby caused tragically Mr Chaplin’s death. That’s the prosecution case literally there.
“The defence case is the defendant’s driving was ‘merely careless’. The prosecution’s case is it wasn’t simply careless but dangerous, it was far below the standard of driving required.”
The trial continues.
