Lorry driver who caused 3 death crash while using phone speaks from prison 

This video should be shown to all those who pass their driving tests in this country. It's a reality check. It clearly shows how that split second decision can affect not only your own life but also those around you. Very powerful.

As a lorry driver this is absolutely devastating, we are all on the roads to get to our destination. And it is our responsibility to keep ourselves and others on the road safe. So remember other peoples lives are really in your hands. Stay safe.

You can see why the police get so annoyed when they see you on your phone.

I am a truck driver for a large company in the United States and I got my boss to show this as a video for safety training.

That guy that lost his parents, how did he manage that interview, amazing courage

The drivers I see looking down at their phones whilst driving is amazing to me 😢

He isn't a bad person, quite clearly. Whilst it is unforgivable to have been on his phone whilst driving, (regardless of the size of the machine he is driving...being on your phone whilst driving is stupidity, plain and simple, car..lorry..whatever)... he hasn't set out to go and cause harm to anyone. He's done something that millions of drivers across the UK do on a daily basis, and it just so happens that he's one of the ones that found out the hard way and paid the price on that day. Taking the life of others and paying for it in prison. Videos like this should be compulsory viewing for all new drivers in the UK. Cars can cause death in this way too, just as lorries and larger vehicles can. I drive about 50 miles a day on the motorway for work, and the amount of people looking down at their mobile phones whilst driving is becoming every other driver. It is the height of stupidity, unbelievably irresponsible and just beyond excuse. There's absolutely no reason for it. If you think you'll be tempted by your phone whilst driving, put it somewhere completely out of reach, and turn it off if necessary. Whatever it takes. Nothing is so urgent that it warrants risking the safety and possibly the lives of not only yourself, but everyone else on the road.

I lost my Mom because a 18 wheeler driver fell asleep while driving. I can feel this pain from both sides. it's heart wrenching.

God this is so tragic, makes you aware of just how dangerous it is to look at your phone while driving. RIP to those who lost their lives.

This is something everyone should watch. The amount of drivers I see on their phones every day is scary. It's dangerous, selfish and unforgivable. I'm so sad for the people who lost their lives and their families.

Really sad event. But Kudos for making this video and sharing these horrific scenes. This needs to be shared and not censored, the awareness this can create from sharing this incident may make other road users think twice before potentially making the same mistake. My heart felt condolences for all the victims and family's and also the HGV driver. Everyone make mistakes in life, just some have very serious and unfortunate consequences. The son of the couple the died seemed to have a very good head and attitude on him. He was obviously brought up very well, I hope he is doing okay.

Never a day goes by without seeing multiple people using their mobile phones while driving. People are so selfish and ignorant.

As a heavy goods driver we have to do a cpc every year . This video has been shown to us as part of the course to educate us the seriousness / consequences of using mobile phones when driving . I think anyone with a licence to drive any vehicle should do these courses to educate every single road user .

It wasn't a "momentary decision to look at his phone". He'd been doing it all day.

that lorry driver isn't a bad person. What he has done is absolutely his fault, and extremely horrendous. And once he gets out of jail, he will have to live with the weight and guilt of what he has done for the rest of his life, and that, that is his true punishment

People forget how dangerous the roads are. I always have some sort of anxiety on the roads as a hgv driver. From the crashes and stuff I’ve personally experienced. But in a way that anxiety makes me drive responsible and with caution. Literally people make fun of my driving, calling me miss daisy or slow coach it’s like a running joke with other truckers. But this is the thing I don’t ever want happening to me. As a father of 3, I want to come back to them every night and it isn’t worth the risk.

This video was very well made. I've been a paramedic in Australia for 25 years and attended countless fatalities and traffic crashes with multiple patients. Especially if you're the first on scene, the magnitude of the incident just increases as you walk closer to the scene. The walking wounded are often the first you see, and although they may present with gruesome injuries, are for the moment a lesser priority. When you're assessing an unconscious/semi-conscious trapped patient with life threatening injuries and then looking over your shoulder making sure the walking wounded are not deteriorating, waiting for more crews to arrive seems eternal. There's something about the smell of congealed blood, motor oil and fluid that seems to linger in the nostrils hours afterwards. Despite not being able to sense the fear and confusion bystanders and patients feel, or the odours of the scene, this video captures the scene dynamics extremely well. Drive safely and sensibly, folks.

This is why i hate people who use their phones behind the wheel.

I'm a driver. And this is very eye opening to some things you see. Don't use your phone folks. My heart goes out to everyone involved

My mum died in the exact same way but was a drugged driver. My mum died instantly. My sister is disabled and our lives are ruined.

This needs to be shown as part of any theory driving test.

The little dog as well 😢 RIP to all 4 souls

The truly sad thing about this is the two who were completely flattened. They did not even realize what had happened properly. Really makes you understand that someone can take your life at any moment and you wouldn't even realize it

Broke my heart the poor darling dog being thrown from the car was the ONLY WAY their identity could be known 😢

Very sad 😢 As a 17 year old who is going to get a provisional license soon, this video has really educated me on how I must act and behave while driving. I will always make sure that my mobile phone is out of reach whenever I am driving. A simple text or phone call can wait for when I’ve reached my destination or have pulled over at a safe spot

Truly devastating event. Every driver should watch this video... a sharp reality check. I feel for everyone involved, including the lorry driver. He did a great wrong but it's clear to see he's devastated. Despite what happened he gets some kudos from appearing in this video. I assume it allowed him to apologise and do his part raise awareness. Most of all though, my heart goes out the friends and family of those lost to the world 😟

As a paramedic in the U.S. I've seen some bad stuff but anywhere in the world a mass casualty incident is the worst nightmare of all first responders. Very nasty looking crash and I hope all the victims and victim families can heal.

Not too long ago i bollocked someone for being on their phone whilst driving. In return I got verbal abuse like I was the one in the wrong. Yes, some people are this level of dumb! I still see this pretty much every day.

I would just like to commend you on an excellent documentary. It covered the total devastation of the crash and the massive impact on the families who loved ones lost their lives

Every driver in the world 🌎 needs to see this. ❤

I drive an artic for Aldi. They have a system called “ microlise” that watches your eyes. If you start to nod off it screams at you and vibrates the seat to alert you. When I first saw this I thought what a liberty. But it's the only thing that stopped me from touching my phone. Every day I see loads of people on the phone whilst driving. I seriously think all vehicles should have them fitted. Condolences to the poor families.

We had a really cocky chap work with us for a couple of days in between his truck driving job. I remember thinking to myself he isn’t mature enough to be driving something that big. A year later I found out he killed a woman on a bike when turning left on a roundabout in London. Driving one of those things is a responsible job and the guys that do it should get payed a bit more and the cowboys from Europe need more lessons for driving in the uk

I can feel the pain and devastation on both sides. The families who have lost the people they loved and the man who caused their deaths through the thoughtless act of using his mobile phone while driving. None of them will ever be the same again and all of them will carry a crushing weight for the rest of their lives. For Ion, I think, never a day will go by that he doesn't think of what happened, never a day that he doesn't wish he'd made a different choice. He too will carry a life sentence now. People need to see this video and decide that they do not want to be another Ion.

This is so sad. People need to seriously think about this before putting others in danger on the road. RIP to those who lost their lifes, including the dog. And I hope the ones who were scared by this and those who lost their loved ones find a lot of peace and strength in their life. 🙏🏻

in 2006 my uncle was driving to work, when stopped in stationary traffic a truck driver using his phone behind the wheel crashed into the back of my uncle's car and into a van in front of my uncle. My uncle and the two occupants of the van were killed instantly. - the "man" driving the truck was given 3 years. 3 YEARS FOR TAKING 3 LIVES IS NOT JUSTICE. IT MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL KNOWING THAT HE IS LIVING A NORMAL LIFE AND PROBABLY DIDN'T EVEN SERVE HALF OF HIS SENTANCE. - IF YOU TAKE A LIFE YOU SHOULD SERVE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE IN JAIL - SIMPLE AS THAT.

Most of the people in UK don’t care about using the phone while driving .. I see at least 10 people a day driving and texting or making calls .. it’s disgusting! Heavier fines such as temporary disqualification should be introduced as then hopefully they would be more serious about it

I am so sorry for the people that lost their loved ones, in this horrific crash. My heart goes out to you all. Deepest sympathies to you all. 🙏🏻🕊️🙏🏻

As a wagon driver, this makes me sick

If this video doesn’t alter people’s ideas of blatantly being on their mobile while driving, I don’t know what will. This should be a public information film. My thoughts are with the bereaved, and sadly for the truck drivers’ family.

At least the guy had the courage to come clean and admit that he did what he did. RIP to all those involved.

3 people and a beloved family dog were killed. They literally used the dog to identify the owners. Please don't forget the poor dog.

My respect, love and appreciation for those lost, those that helped and emergency services. RIP. A serving fire fighter ❤

I have empathy for everyone involved, including the driver. The amount of people I see on the phone whilst driving, so many people are guilty of what this man did. This guy just happened to have major consequences for it. Mobile phones are far too addictive, they literally compete with our ability to keep ourselves and others safe when driving. Something needs to to be done about it.

Thank you to whoever put this video up, yes it is a shocking video but this is reality not a video game, I don’t know what prison sentence the driver got for this undoubtedly not long enough, l’m not condoning his actions in any way but at least he did show genuine remorse and accepted the fact that he was the cause of the accident, he also accepted the fact that he’d ended the life of three people and changed the lives of countless others including his own family. I think there should be more of these videos on RU-vid it may deter a few van/lorry drivers and also car drivers the consequences of using your phone while driving.

As a driver I can well understand the temptation to take a call while driving. My office will call me multiple times while I'm out simply because I haven't answered their call or called them back until I'm parked up somewhere. Videos like this make me realise I'm totally justified in not answering despite the complaints I get from the office and customers. FWIW my boss still speeds even after being caught twice and being sent on a speed awareness course.

Every single day whilst driving to and from work, my husband and I see at least 10 people using phones whilst driving. I find it really shocking and it makes me so angry that people play so freely with other people's lives.

The Lorry who caused it completely went over that small car. That's why im terrified of being stuck in traffic on a highway. Worried that the person coming from behind isn't paying attention and will ram right into us.

One of my fears as a driver is when you're slowing down and someone isn't paying attention and rear ends you at a tremendous force of speed. Im always looking in my rear whenever I'm slowing down - more so after driving highway speed. Someone on their phone hit me head on while I was waitng at a red light back in Feb. I've never truly recovered mentally from that, and still worry it will happen again and I wont be lucky like last time. I can drive okay, but I check my mirrors constantly - twice more than before the collisons.

Such a sad story, the lorry driver was obviously one of those drivers who use his phone whilst driving on daily basis & nothing has ever happened... then 1 day out of the blue the lack of concentration for a few seconds causes such drama

The amount of people I’ve seen on their phone driving. It’s a shame because you don’t know what will happen if they keep looking down and not in-front.

So sad for all involved. Huge respect for our emergency services.

As an ex police officer I have dealt with a number of fatal accidents. I am left with all those awful memories in my mind just left to sink by the police. I watched this and it all came flooding back and made me cry. I feel so so sorry for the reletives of the deceased people and the people who dealt with this awful situation. I remember telling a lady who was pregnant that her husband had died she collapsed. What I didn't tell her is that I held his hand and asked me not to let him die, he died.

He was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment. Just to inform about this fact.

I’m a class 1 driver and one thing I’d never do is pick up my phone when moving, I don’t care who is calling/messaging, that phone isn’t being touched till I’m stationary, the way I see it is, I’m basically driving a killing machine, so staying focused at all times is important

This video needs to be shown everywhere , constantly . TV advert campaign N O W . I still see all the entitled types m & f driving around texting without a care - disgusting & selfish in equal measure .

Hard seeing this! This man's no intentional killer he got complacent behind the wheel and used his mobile the same as most drivers I see up and down the motorways doing! As a hgv driver I feel for everyone involved in this tragic event.

Excellent video. Awful behaviour from the driver, unforgivable. But he deserves credit for taking part in the video. This highlights how important drivers of large vehicles are. Pay them properly, treat them well and you'll get professionals who do the job diligently. Driving a vehilce non stop for 4.5 hours at a time takes concentration. One driver can cause so much devastation and pain.

As a driver, the amount of people I see using there mobile phones every single day drives me mad, when people get caught they should be made to watch this horrific video. Then things might sink in then!

I cried almost all the way through this and I will probably not be able to stop thinking about it for the rest of the day. A text. That's what did all of that. Edit: good on the HGV driver for allowing himself to be interviewed for this. What he did was unforgivable but how many people check texts or quickly try to reply whilst driving?? Let this be a lesson to you all. He's paying the price and is willing to share his story.

All drivers should see this video. Especially those who habitually use phones whilst driving. What makes it worse is that if you challenge such people, they just tell you to @@@@ off.

God bless the dog 🐕 😢❤

I still believe lorries need a full redesign. They're designed solely for transporting as many goods as possible. There is no crumple zone when a lorry hits you. The zones on a car will not withstand the impact from a lorry, the entire car itself will crumple. It might not make any difference but we do seriously need to think about how to make them safer.

speak BS ,90% motorists is on the phones while driving ,taxi drivers watching TV , police does not g.s about

He killed 4!! The couple had their beloved dog in the car. Something needs to be done, as I still see people on their mobiles, on a daily basis!

As a lorry driver myself i am amazed at how many lorry drivers and car drivers still use there mobile phones whilst driving on motorways espacially at speed, unfortunatly this made the headlines as it was such a severe accident. I do hope this opens up peoples eyes into the devistaion that can be caused by using a mobile phone whilst driving otherwise this could happen again. THIS could have been your loved one or parents. R.I.P.

What really is sad is the fact EVERYSINGLE day I see lorry drivers using their mobile phones whilst driving...

I'm a cyclist and it's crazy how many drivers I see using their phone. It's every day multiple times a day

this accident freaked me out so much 😪 i was shocked into making sure i never, ever even thought about touching my mobile while in the driver seat. it felt like this could happen to anyone, anyone who is not being 100% careful while driving...one minute we're safe and the next we are not. stay safe on the roads everyone 😔

My thoughts go out to all who lost there lives and all there families. RIP To all the victims ❤❤❤

Plain clothes police should look for people on their phones while driving, film them, get the license plate numbers and fine them for it. It would stop immediately.

Not only have I seen ordinary people using they’re mobiles whilst driving, I seen cops aswell, almost everyone dose it, Really sad for those people that lost they’re lives, FairPlay driver, driving trucks is no easy job,a lonely job, driving for hours bored outa your skull, God Bless to those families for they’re losses❤️

Don’t use your phones while driving common sense

I’m a lorry driver, I think it’s the fact mobile phone wasn’t such a big punishment too long ago people think it’s forgivable. Don’t drive on the phone because it’s not a matter of if, it’s the matter of when this is going to happen 💔

This is so sad, at the end I was expecting a photo of the dog who also lost it's life 😢

He killed 4 lives. What about the dog. It is still a life.

To all those who think it is okay to drive and use their phone: If you are involved in a serious accident and there is a suspicion you may have caused it, the police will check your phone records. You don’t need to have made a call at the time of the accident, a few minutes before of afterwards is still considered enough of a distraction. And if someone died as a result, you'll be going to prison for causing death by dangerous driving.

Horrible, so sad. Was hoping they would pay tribute to the doggy as well at the end. He was also a life and family member.

Somebody who drives on A1M regularly, this is scary, I drive to Darlington, Sunderland and Chester le Street at least once a month from London, sent chills through my spine looking at the Hilux... all because of one driver's inconsiderate action. Lives are more precious than a WhatsApp message or call.

I see why Volvo, MErcedes etc insist in adding auto-breaking systems to trucks and why Tesla included All the self driving auto pilot hardware in the Tesla Semi. Those trucks are killers and need all the neccessary tech to make it stop no matter what. This is the perfect example why every truck should be equipped with auto breaking systems by law!

Every day on my way to work i see people on mobile phones while driving...they even drive into my line ....idiots !!!!!😡😡😡....i feel sorry for this man we only humans...but be more careful people

So scary and upsetting to watch . Three lives lost from the desperation to use a mobile phone that could have waited till he stopped , but to hear of a family dog thrown dead from one of the cars laying in the road was just chilling . Heart felt sorrys to the families of them who lost ,

It needs to become as socially unacceptable as drink driving and with the same sentence - a 12 month ban if caught driving using your phone.

Absolutely devastating to watch god bless all those poor people who sadly died my thoughts go out to all their family’s and loved ones and friends for their loss my thought to all who had to witness this and to all the emergency services that were on duty on that horrendous day

I lost my dad in this crash and I’ll never forgive him

Didn't give a flying f I'm in lawless Britain you can do whatever you want. I'm a professional driver I see them every day of the week. Fiddling digi cards, ducky diesel they know they'll get away with everything, after all this is our broken country. God bless all his victims. 😢

1:43 lorry started to crash

Anyone using a phone driving, need to be banned from driving, for life. 💯💯

Seems like a decent guy who made a mistake but I still think his sentence is too short, should be doing 20 year tbh

Truly tragic..rest in peace to the 3 innocent people killed ❤

God… at least the puppy is with his family now in heaven already 💔

His sentence was far too short...

Using a phone at the wheel is just as dangerous if not more so than drink driving. It’s about time our politicians give mobile phone users a 12 month minimum ban like drink drivers. The lorry driver clearly was remorseful. He will always think about the people he killed and their families and the countless family members and friends will never forget their loved ones. No winners here 😪😢

Really sad. We all make mistakes, horrible mistakes. Driving while talking on your phone doesn’t make this man evil, and if we’re all being honest most of us have done. Unfortunately, he was driving a truck which magnified the damage. This is something we can all learn from

The laws in Britain are very slack! Elsewhere this lorry driver would have been sentenced for life! And rightly so!

Most modern cars have a large touch screen display in the middle of the dash, not many buttons. That means the driver has to take their eyes off the road to use it. Doesnt strike me as great design, and not much different to using a phone.

The unimaginable grief the HGV driver caused in just a few seconds is truly hard to watch......but this is what technology brings......and selfish stupidity......the mad thing is he saw signs telling him in advance that there were traffic queues ahead.......and yet he still focused his attention on his phone. Along with other comments i do feel his sentence was an insult to those who perished on that day. How many more people must lose their lives before the message gets across about driving with phones/alcohol/drugs.

I feel for absolutely everyone involved, you kinda build a resistance to road deaths but the dead dog just finished me and woke me up to the horror - a simple mistake, don’t tell me you’ve never looked at your mobile on a freeway, he happened to do it as traffic stopped it’s a true nightmare scenario.

As an experienced artic driver - this video is horrific and a shocking reality check with a terrible aftermath. There is no excuse for being on the phone while driving (HGV or cars etc) and this collision was 100% avoidable. As for HGV drivers who fall asleep...I have a lot more sympathy - it's the hauliers who are making them (us) drive crazy hours. I was given a route last week whereby I would be on the go from 10am - 1am mainly driving - then expected to get a decent night sleep in a layby with trucks thundering past every few minutes and do it all over again the next day...I was shattered - got no sleep - realised I would potentially be a hazard later the next as a result of sleep deprivation and I had to argue/haggle with the transport office to say I couldn't in all consciousness drive the next day. Yes - it cost me wages BUT I wonder how many other drivers don't get the choice - ie - do it or you're fired....People often argue that you have legal driving limits in place but getting a good night sleep to recharge is as important and sadly in this country we seem to skirt over lorry driver welfare or treat it as an afterthought....crazy when you can see clearly in this shocking video what damage a 44 tonne lorry can do at even low speeds if you're not 100% focused and in the game. My final thoughts and condolences for the families of the deceased and all who were involved in this dreadful event...

sorry but I don't feel sorry for him at all. of course he's sorry now...for beeing in jail. He was on his phone looking at adult dating sites wile having a wife and daughter. don't let the tears fool you. he's only feeling sorry for him self. don't think any one else needs to

How awful after watching it back, Paul was the first car to be hit and went under the lorry as it hit the Range Rover killing the couple and their dog, the 3rd and 4th car so lucky to be alive. I cried. I think this should be used across TV and in colleges, schools to show the dangers of using a mobile phone when driving. Phones should be made to shut down, when moving. It would be easy for a sensor to decipher if kids using in back of vehicle ok. In front no no no. Rest peacefully to those who tragically died 😢💔