Shocking moment: Truck driver searches for a podcast on his phone and crashes into a car, narrowly avoiding a family standing on the side of the road
This is the shocking moment a truck driver, searching for a podcast on his phone, crashes into a car, narrowly missing a family in the road.
Dashcam footage shows Raymond Catterall, 44, driving on the A55 near Bangor with his phone in one hand, looking up and down from the device.
Further ahead, a stopped car can be seen that Catterall doesn’t notice. His truck then slams into the side of the car, nearly hitting people standing on the side of the road before veering off the road and crashing into a bush.
Catterall, from Maghull in Merseyside, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Caernarfon Crown Court. The judge sentenced him to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
Prosecutor William Griffin told the court how on May 15 last year, police were alerted to a collision between Catterall’s lorry and a car on the A55. The lorry had hit the back of a Kia Rio, which was half in the road and half on the verge.
Dashcam footage shows Raymond Catterall, 44, driving on the A55 near Bangor with his phone in one hand as he looks down from the device
Further ahead, a stationary car can be seen that Catterall doesn’t notice. His truck then slams into the side of the car, nearly hitting people standing on the side of the road.
When police arrived, Catterall explained to Officer Daniel Owen that he had attempted to avoid the car.
According to Mr Griffin, Catterall admitted he should have noticed the stationary vehicle, but claimed the vehicle had stopped unexpectedly in front of him.
When asked about possible distractions, Catterall replied, “Not that he can remember.”
Simon Mintz, defending, said: ‘He tried to find a podcast, if that means anything, but it was distracting enough for him not to see the car in the carriageway.’ Mr Mintz said his client showed deep remorse and accepted he was ‘very remorseful’.
The court heard that Catterall had worked for Johnsons Workwear for 28 years but had now lost his driving licence.
Mr Mintz said: ‘Isn’t this another example of why none of us should use a phone while driving?’
Catterall’s vehicles then veer off the road and crash into the foliage on the side of the bust. A road
Catterall, who is from Maghull in Merseyside, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Caernarfon Crown Court (pictured). The judge sentenced him to eight months in prison, with 18 months suspended (stock image)
Judge Timothy Petts addressed Catterall, saying the crash was “entirely preventable” – a new warning against using mobile phones while driving.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Judge Petts ordered Catterall to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and to a three-month curfew with electronic monitoring from 7pm to 7am.
In addition, Catterall was disqualified from driving for 12 months for both the dangerous driving charge and the offence of using a mobile phone while driving, and will have to take an extended retest before he can regain his driving licence.
