Colchester: Man guilty of causing fatal collision

A man has been convicted of causing the death of a teenage girl whilst driving in Hythe Hill, Colchester.

Daniel Chappell was behind the wheel of a Ford Kuga when it struck Alliyah Bell in the early hours of August 29 2021.

Alliyah, who was only 17 at the time, tragically died in hospital 11 days later.
Chappell was arrested and questioned. Whilst in custody, he passed drink drive and drug-drive tests.

Accounts from witnesses suggested the car being driving by Chappell was travelling above the 30mph speed limit when the collision took place.

A detailed investigation carried out by our forensic collision investigation unit found that Chappell was travelling at about 40mph and would have had time to react before the collision.

If he had been travelling at 30mph, the collision may still have occurred, but Alliyah may have survived the incident.

Chappell, now 37, of Prince Philip Road, Colchester, was subsequently charged with causing death by careless driving.

He denied the charge but was found guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court after a four-day trial.

He is due to be sentenced on 16 October. 

In a statement from Alliyah’s mother Jo Bell she said:

“This has been a traumatic week for myself, Kirk and the whole family.

“It has taken us back to the darkest place in our lives and even though this court case has brought justice today with a guilty verdict it will never bring our Alliyah back.

“We have been, and will be suffering for the rest of our lives without her.

“This man has had no remorse or compassion throughout this whole process which has made it even more heartbreaking on top of our grief.”

Detective Inspector Mark Fraser, of our serious collision investigation unit, said:

“Alliyah’s tragic death was avoidable. She was a young woman and had her whole life ahead of her.

“She was a daughter, a sister and a niece and I know her loss is felt by her family and friends each and every day.

“Chappell could have avoided this tragedy. He was speeding in a residential street in the early hours of the morning, giving himself almost no chance to react before the incident and, sadly, this resulted in his driving taking the life of a young woman and he will have to live with this for the rest of his life.”

 

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