**Alleged Showboating Led to Fatal Collision with Dog Walker, Cardiff Court Told**
A court has heard that a man accused of causing the death of a pedestrian in Caerphilly was allegedly “showing off” before he lost control of his car and struck a dog walker, resulting in fatal injuries. The trial, which opened at Cardiff Crown Court, centres on the actions of 28-year-old Daniel Boucher, who denies causing death by dangerous driving, though he has admitted to causing death by careless driving.
The incident unfolded in Nelson, Caerphilly, on the evening of 18 April 2023. Mr David Chaplin, aged 66, had been out walking his dogs when tragedy struck. Boucher’s red Peugeot 207 failed to successfully navigate a left-hand bend, veered off the road, and ultimately collided with Mr Chaplin, who was found unresponsive on a grassy verge nearby. He was later pronounced dead at the scene, with medical examiners attributing his death to multiple traumatic injuries.
According to the prosecution, Boucher was leaving his workplace at Whitebeam Industrial Estate in Nelson and had been engaged in conversation with a colleague, Scott Williams, moments before the accident. Boucher, who works for a window cleaning company, reportedly professed his enthusiasm for cars, boasting about his Peugeot’s turbocharger and enhanced horsepower.
Witnesses told the court that after leaving the industrial estate, Boucher revved his car’s engine multiple times—supposedly to impress those around him. This behaviour, prosecutors suggest, reflects his intent to “show off,” setting the tone for what would happen next. As Boucher exited onto Ty Du Road, he again accelerated and took a sharp left turn at speed, according to testimony.
Scott Williams, driving behind Boucher, told the court he saw a man with two dogs approaching on the pavement just as Boucher entered the bend. Prosecutor Owen Williams detailed how the prosecution contends Boucher lost control through “oversteer,” causing the car’s rear tyres to lose grip. The vehicle then slid sideways, mounted the pavement, and smashed into a lamppost, flipping onto its side before coming to rest on a verge. It was in this moment, court heard, that Mr Chaplin sustained his fatal injuries.
Williams recounted witnessing the aftermath, seeing Boucher disoriented and bleeding from a head wound. He then noticed Mr Chaplin lying motionless on the grass and immediately called for emergency assistance while returning briefly to his workplace to summon further help. Paramedics and police arrived swiftly but were unable to save Mr Chaplin, despite their best efforts. A police investigation later confirmed no mechanical faults with the Peugeot.
In response to police questioning, Boucher is reported to have acknowledged losing control of the vehicle and to have admitted exceeding the speed limit. He is said to have remarked, “What have I done, I’m sorry,” indicating immediate remorse for his actions.
A forensic analysis of the crash determined that the maximum safe speed to navigate the bend and remain in the vehicle’s lane was 51mph. Calculations suggest Boucher’s car was travelling between 45mph and 50mph, albeit decelerating, at the moment of the collision. The prosecution maintains this was excessive, arguing that the defendant’s driving represented a significant departure from reasonable standards, thus amounting to dangerous driving.
Boucher’s defence, however, has categorically denied that his behaviour met the threshold for dangerous driving, insisting that his conduct constituted carelessness, not recklessness or deliberate risk-taking. The jury will be asked to weigh these arguments as they consider whether his actions were merely careless or criminally dangerous.
As proceedings continue, the case has cast a spotlight on the responsibilities of drivers to act safely at all times, and on the devastating consequences that can occur when those responsibilities are neglected. The trial is expected to continue in the coming days, with further evidence and testimony anticipated.