Drugs driver jailed after fatal crash on A4174 that left teenager dead

A drug driver has been jailed for five years for causing the 2022 South Gloucestershire collision that tragically killed 16-year-old Daniel Davies.

Harry Charlton, aged 29 and from Kingswood, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court today (October 21) after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed drug limit.

The court heard Charlton had run a red light while exceeding the speed limit before the collision between his Ford Fiesta and Daniels moped at the A4174 Wraxall Road roundabout in April 2022.

Despite the best efforts of the public, an off-duty police officer and emergency services attending, Daniel sadly died at the scene.

Charlton was arrested and a test showed he was over the limit for cannabis.

He was sentenced to five years in prison, disqualified from driving for two years from the date of his release and ordered to undergo an extended retest.

Judge Martin Picton said at his sentencing: “Daniel Davies was 16 when he died, tragically and needlessly. He had his whole life ahead of him.

“You, Harry Charlton, drove through a red light with cannabis above the driving limit.

“Your concentration levels were affected by the cannabis, as was your ability to drive your vehicle safely. You should have stopped at the red light.”

Daniel’s mother, Sam Davies, paid the following tribute to her son after today’s sentencing:

“I will never understand why Daniel was taken from us so quickly and no punishment will ever be long enough.

“He was one of the ‘good guys’ in life. He was smart, funny and had a good heart. He had his whole future ahead of him.

“The pain of losing Daniel is a pain like no other, a sadness sadder than any other.

“Myself, the family, friends and his friends will miss him forever, but we will all live for him and never forget him.

“Daniel, in your words to your father, ‘we live for you’ and we always will.

“I love you Dan x”

Investigating officer Dai Nicholas said: “Daniel’s family have shown extraordinary courage throughout an unimaginably difficult two-and-a-half years and for that I would like to pay tribute to them.

“This is yet another example of someone’s life tragically cut short because a driver is not fit enough to be on the road.

“Drugs reduce your ability to drive safely and put you or other motorists at risk of serious injury.

“Charlton was solely responsible for Daniel’s death and will live the rest of his life with the consequences of his decisions that night.”