A34 crash
On 10th August 2017 at approximately 17:10BST, a lorry collided with a number of other vehicles. As a result four people died and twelve were injured, one seriously injured. The case was significant as it lead to the penalty for using a mobile phone whilst driving being doubled.
The crash
A 44 tonne (44,000kg) lorry was travelling at approximately 50mph (80kph) along the A34 in Buckinghamshire, England. It smashed head on into eight vehicles in front. Everyone in the third car died due to the fact that it had been crushed to a third of its usual size by the lorry. The victims were; Tracy, Ethan and Joshua Houghton, as well as Aimee Goldsmith.
Police investigation
The lorry driver was arrested pending further inquiries. Witnesses said that the driver made no effort to stop until it was too late. When questioned on this , the lorry driver said that he had tried to stop but the brakes would not work. Examination of the lorry showed that the brakes were not faulty, so the police checked the dash cam to see what had happened. It showed footage of the driver scrolling through music on his phone moments before the crash, he did not notice the tailback of traffic I front of him.
Charges and sentencing
As a result of the evidence, the CPS decided to charge Tomasz Kroker with four counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He appeared at the local magistrates court of 9th September 2016, where he was remanded in custody.
On 10th October 2016, Kroker pleaded guilty to all charges against him.
On 31st October, Kroker was jailed for 10 years on each count of causing death by dangerous driving and four years for causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The sentences were to run concurrently meaning that they will be served at the same time. Tomasz Kroker will be able to apply for parole on 10/10/2021.
Aftermath
Due to the fact that the penalties for using a mobile phone whilst driving did not seem to deter people from doing it, the government passed legislation to double the penalty for using a phone whilst driving from 3 points and £100 fine to 6 points and £200 fine. These new rules came into force on 1st March 2017 and mean that new drivers lose their license for 6 months when caught. Experienced drivers can be banned for 6 months if caught twice.
Parliament also announced a review of the sentencing for causing death by dangerous driving, the maximum sentence could potentially be increased to life imprisonment in the future.
Sources and references
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37823457
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2083113/video-dash-campolish-lorry-driver-who-killed-mum-and-three-kids-while-he-changed-music-on-his-phone-is-jailed/
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/a34-lorry-driver-who-caused-12105528
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-37037942
https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/news/general/man-sentenced-causing-death-dangerous-driving-a34/
http://www.thelawpages.com/court-cases/Tomasz-Kroker-18594-1.law
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/drivers-who-kill-jail-life-prison-dangerous-driving-government-crackdown-new-rules-a7454416.html
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/drivers-flout-new-mobile-phone-9944547
The crash
A 44 tonne (44,000kg) lorry was travelling at approximately 50mph (80kph) along the A34 in Buckinghamshire, England. It smashed head on into eight vehicles in front. Everyone in the third car died due to the fact that it had been crushed to a third of its usual size by the lorry. The victims were; Tracy, Ethan and Joshua Houghton, as well as Aimee Goldsmith.
Police investigation
The lorry driver was arrested pending further inquiries. Witnesses said that the driver made no effort to stop until it was too late. When questioned on this , the lorry driver said that he had tried to stop but the brakes would not work. Examination of the lorry showed that the brakes were not faulty, so the police checked the dash cam to see what had happened. It showed footage of the driver scrolling through music on his phone moments before the crash, he did not notice the tailback of traffic I front of him.
Charges and sentencing
As a result of the evidence, the CPS decided to charge Tomasz Kroker with four counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He appeared at the local magistrates court of 9th September 2016, where he was remanded in custody.
On 10th October 2016, Kroker pleaded guilty to all charges against him.
On 31st October, Kroker was jailed for 10 years on each count of causing death by dangerous driving and four years for causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The sentences were to run concurrently meaning that they will be served at the same time. Tomasz Kroker will be able to apply for parole on 10/10/2021.
Aftermath
Due to the fact that the penalties for using a mobile phone whilst driving did not seem to deter people from doing it, the government passed legislation to double the penalty for using a phone whilst driving from 3 points and £100 fine to 6 points and £200 fine. These new rules came into force on 1st March 2017 and mean that new drivers lose their license for 6 months when caught. Experienced drivers can be banned for 6 months if caught twice.
Parliament also announced a review of the sentencing for causing death by dangerous driving, the maximum sentence could potentially be increased to life imprisonment in the future.
Sources and references
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37823457
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2083113/video-dash-campolish-lorry-driver-who-killed-mum-and-three-kids-while-he-changed-music-on-his-phone-is-jailed/
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/a34-lorry-driver-who-caused-12105528
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-37037942
https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/news/general/man-sentenced-causing-death-dangerous-driving-a34/
http://www.thelawpages.com/court-cases/Tomasz-Kroker-18594-1.law
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/drivers-who-kill-jail-life-prison-dangerous-driving-government-crackdown-new-rules-a7454416.html
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/drivers-flout-new-mobile-phone-9944547
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