Legal News

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said that a lorry driver who killed four members of the same family by using his mobile phone while driving had caused the deaths as a result of “inattention and distraction”.

On Monday (31/10/16), Tomasz Kroker was jailed for ten years at Reading Crown Court.

He was driving on the northbound carriageway of the A34 in Berkshire on 10 August 2016, when he drove into the back of the stationary queue of vehicles at approximately 50mph.

Tracey Houghton, 45, from Bedfordshire, her two sons, Josh Houghton,11, and Ethan Houghton, 13 – and her partner's daughter, Aimee Goldsmith, 11 –
all died at the scene. They had been travelling in the same vehicle.

A further five people were injured – including one man who was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Kroker had initially claimed at the scene that his brakes had failed, but when confronted with dash cam footage, he admitted he had been looking at his mobile phone at the time of the crash.

On 10 October, he pleaded guilty to four counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

District Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Gavin Hernandez, said:

“This was not a tragic accident, but four deaths were caused by Kroker's inattention and distraction.

“This case highlights the serious consequences of failing to be alert and prepared for unexpected driving conditions.

“Mobile phones must not be used by drivers under any circumstances, as they are a lethal distraction which – as this case demonstrates – can lead to untold misery.

“Our thoughts are very much with the families affected by this tragic incident.”

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