Shocking moment A55 lorry driver crashes while on phone
This shocking video shows an A55 lorry driver on his phone moments before he crashes into a broken down car. Raymond Catterall, 44, can be seen looking repeatedly at his device as he searches for a podcast. Seconds later he comes up unexpectedly on the stationary vehicle which is partly on the inside lane and partly on the verge.
He narrowly avoids a family. He pleaded guilty to a dangerous driving charge and using a mobile phone at the wheel[1] A court heard on Friday that he had been travelled on the eastbound carriageway at Tal-y-Bont, near Bangor[2] at about 2pm on May 15 last year.
After the collision Catterall, of Rufford Avenue, Maghull, Merseyside, managed to get out of his cab and seek help at a nearby house.
An officer found him there. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here[5] Catterall had been driving a 7.5 tonne Mercedes Benz Atego lorry and had worked for his firm for 28 years.
He initially suggested a car had "pulled out" in front of him but later admitted his guilt. A judge at Caernarfon[6] Crown Court told him the accident had been "entirely avoidable". He was given an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and wear a tag during a curfew.
He was also disqualified from driving for a year and must pass an extended retest.
Find crime figures for your area
References
- ^ pleaded guilty to a dangerous driving charge and using a mobile phone at the wheel (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Bangor (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ First picture of Beaumaris crash tragedy victims released (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ 'Sugar daddy' murderers and Facebook 'bigot' among criminals jailed in North Wales in August (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ latest court stories here (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Caernarfon (www.dailypost.co.uk)