Man convicted in connection with fatal collision of five-year-old in Milton Keynes

David Cowell, of Deacon Crescent, Middleton, Milton Keynes, was found guilty by a majority verdict of causing death by careless/inconsiderate driving at Aylesbury Crown Court yesterday.

At about 1.50pm on Sunday, June 1 last year, a black Vauxhall Insignia being driven by Cowell pulled on to a driveway he shared with the victim’s family in Wood Spring Court, Monkston, where he collided with five-year-old Riley Ferguson.

Riley was taken to hospital but sadly died on 11 June 2015.

Cowell was summonsed with a postal requisition on 3 May 2016.

“Riley had been sitting cross-legged, playing with a ball and talking to a young friend, on the driveway his family shared with Cowell,” said senior investigating officer Insp Graeme Hughes.

“Cowell had entered the driveway in his vehicle and through his inattention and carelessness, had failed to see Riley and collided with him.

“This is a tragic case which shows what can happen even at relatively low speeds, if you are behind the wheel of a vehicle and not paying full attention, “Cowell had clearly had not been paying attention.”

”This trial has been a very difficult and emotional time for Riley’s parents and although nothing will ever bring back Riley to those who knew and loved him, I hope this conviction can help the family bring some sense of closure to what must be the most incredibly painful chapter of their lives.”

Cowell has been released on bail with a condition of residency and is due to be sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court on October 21.