‘Cheeky’ Little Boy Killed by Car While Searching for His Brother

Aberdeen, Feb 1, 2025 — A devastating loss has shaken the community of Par, Cornwall, as five-year-old Dexter Chapman was tragically killed in a road accident on April 25, 2024. Dexter, described by his family as a “beautiful little ray of sunshine” and “the most loving little boy,” was struck by a Ford Fiesta while searching for his older brothers near Penpillick Hill.

On the night of the incident, Dexter and his brothers had returned home from school by taxi at their usual time. After being instructed to tidy their rooms, the playful trio went outside to enjoy the evening in their garden. Dexter, known as the “cheeky storyteller in the family,” had no known hearing, eyesight, or learning difficulties. His mother, Bryony Larsen, emphasized that the siblings were always educated about road safety and the importance of staying clear of busy roads, Cornwall Live reports.

Tragically, Dexter left the safety of his garden to find his brothers after feeling excluded from their playtime. Wearing his school uniform, he ventured out through a lane leading to the main road and ran across it, unaware of the approaching vehicle. CCTV footage captured the young boy making his way towards the road, where he was struck by the Ford Fiesta, according to the Mirror.

In court, the driver of the vehicle provided his account of the accident. “I saw something move. It all happened at speed. The next second a child came out onto the road in front of me. He stopped as if he didn’t know where to go. I didn’t know which way to steer to avoid him. It all happened so fast,” the driver explained. Despite his efforts to brake and change lanes, the collision was unavoidable due to the swift movement of the child.

Emergency responders arrived promptly and rushed Dexter to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, Dexter was pronounced dead at the scene. The inquest revealed that Dexter suffered multiple fatal injuries, including compression to the neck, which proved unsurvivable.

PC Rachel Ellis, the investigating officer, stated, “There was nothing the driver could have done to avoid colliding with Dexter.” Assistant Coroner Stephen Covell concluded, “It is likely that Dexter didn’t have any experience of crossing the road or did not see the car or misjudged the speed it was travelling at. It’s likely that he was just looking for his brother and thought they might have gone back to the road.”

Dexter’s father, Dan Chapman, recounted the heartbreaking moments leading up to the accident. “We lost our little boy last night,” Dan said, expressing the profound grief felt by the family. He added, “He didn’t tell us where he was going. He told grandpa that he was going to a friend’s house but that wasn’t where he was going. He always came home.”

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Bryony Larsen has appealed for increased safety measures around local roads to prevent such heartbreaking incidents in the future. The family is now grappling with their immense loss, mourning the untimely death of their beloved son who brought joy and light to everyone around him.

As the community mourns, the case serves as a poignant reminder of the critical importance of road safety education and vigilant supervision to protect young children from such tragic accidents.