CARNAGE ON THE MOTORWAY
Horrific dashcam footage shows moment Polish lorry driver killed mum and three kids as he changed music on his phone
Tomasz Kroker admitted killing four people from the same family after ploughing into stationary cars
THIS is the harrowing moment a lorry driver was filmed changing the music on his phone before killing a mum and three kids after ploughing into stationary cars.
The highly-distressing footage was shown to the victims' families in court today as Polish Tomasz Kroker was jailed for ten years for causing the deaths of Tracy, Josh and Ethan Houghton and Aimee Goldsmith.
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Family and friends of the victims were gathered at court and some wept in the public gallery as the images were shown. Some also left before the most serious images and footage was shown.
Footage played from the vehicle's two dashcams showed the horrifying moments before and during impact.
The lorry's front-facing camera showed it approaching the line of stationary traffic before hitting it at speed.
Meanwhile the camera recording inside the cab showed Kroker holding his phone out to the side of him with his left hand. He was scrolling through different music options while pop music played loudly in the truck.
The music continued as he looked up in shock just moments before the lorry collided with the first car in front of it.
He grabbed the steering wheel with both hands and braced for impact but it was far too late.
High Court Judge Mrs Justice McGowan sentenced Kroker at Reading Crown Court to four counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
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The phone distracted Kroker so much he failed to see the line of stationary traffic in front of him, which had built up after another lorry slowed down while struggling to climb a hill.
The court had heard that the lorry driver, who himself had become a father five months before the incident, was so distracted by his phone that he barely looked at the road for almost a kilometre.
Passing sentence, Judge Maura McGowan said his attention had been so poor that he "might as well have had his eyes closed".
Just an hour earlier he had signed a declaration to his employer, promising he would not use his phone at the wheel.
Outside court members of the family made a desperate plea to motorists to never use their mobile phones while driving.
In statement they said: "The sentence of ten years in prison will not ease our pain and suffering, nor do we believe it will send a strong enough message to those who lack the self-restraint to not use their mobile phones whilst driving.
"Anyone using a mobile whilst driving is guilty of dangerous driving. It only takes a second of distraction to kill someone, destroying your life, your family's lives, and those of your victim and their family.
"Today's outcome must serve as a reminder to us all of our responsibilities every time we drive and that the decisions we make can be fatal. Our children lost their lives because of the reckless actions of Tomasz Kroker.
"But we are not the only family to have suffered due to what is perceived by many as minor, inconsequential crime - a crime that takes place on our roads every day.
"We urge you to make a personal commitment to stop using mobile phones whilst driving and make our roads safer for everyone."
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Tracy Houghton was killed alongside her two young boys and her partner's daughter in the A34 crash.
She had just started a new job at Bedford Council, immediately opposite her home.
On October 10 Kroker admitted causing the deaths of Tracy, Josh and Ethan Houghton and Aimee Goldsmith by dangerous driving in the horror crash in August.
The latter three victims were aged just 11, 13, and 11 years respectively.
The court heard Kroker, 30, of Andover, Hants.,was distracted for seven seconds by his mobile phone before the crash, which was captured in harrowing dash cam footage.
The father-of-one was also charged with a single count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving following the crash which happened at around 5.10pm.
The Vauxhall car in which the group were was crushed to a third of its normal size by the impact of the collision and the weight of a lorry in front of it.
Photographs shown to the court featured the wreckage left of many vehicles after the collision - some had been almost completely destroyed.
Kroker’s partner had attended court for the sentencing.
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In her sentencing remarks, Mrs Justice McGowan said: "I would first like to pay tribute to the quiet dignity that all the believed family members have shown.
"No court has the power to do anything that will limit the terrible and devastating loss in this case - the potential lives of all three children and a loving mother.
"No sentence I cam impose can do anything to mitigate the terrible and permanent loss those families will feel.
"One can only hope that the publicity surrounding this case will bring greater awareness of the consequences of using a phone, not just to text or to call, but also a phone to play music or use some form of navigation software while driving.
"There are a number of aggravating features in this case. There was clearly a distraction, whether it was by using the phone or not looking up, it was clear the defendant didn't see the slowing vehicles in front of him for a period of something like 45 seconds.
"I can look on that as a prolonged period of distraction."
The High Court judge sentenced him to ten years for four counts of causing death by dangerous driving and four years, to run concurrent, for causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He will also be banned from driving for seven years.
Speaking prior to sentencing Charles Ward Jackson, prosecuting, said: "One of the issues a sentencing judge will have to think about is how long the defendant was distracted by his mobile phone.
"This was at least seven-and-three-quarter seconds as shown by dash cam video.
"The best evidence shows simultaneously the defendant looking repeatedly at his mobile phone.
"Another angle through the windscreen shows the fast-approaching queue of vehicles."
Mr Jackson-Ward added: "The defendant, it is clear, was not looking. It is only 0.75 seconds before the crash that the camera shows the defendant looking up with some horror on his face."
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Four lorries and four cars were involved in the fatal crash in total which killed the mother and the three children from Dunstable, Bedfordshire.
The northbound carriageway was closed as emergency services rushed to the scene.
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Dozens of emergency services were dispatched to the scene including specialist medics from the hazardous response unit.
Another man and a teenage boy were taken to hospital with minor injuries while another nine people were treated at the scene on the northbound carriageway for minor injuries.
The crash near East Ilsley happened on a stretch of road known as a notorious blackspot which has been subject to campaigns to reduce the speed limit.
Adam Pearson, who was seriously injured in the horrific crash, spoke outside court with his partner.
Mr Pearson, who still has to wear a brace underneath his jaw, said: "We had seen the dash cam footage in advance because we took the decision to watch it.
"It makes for difficult viewing for me. I have no memory or recollection of the accident, it didn't really feel like watching footage of me.
"It is impossible to believe someone at the wheel of a vehicle that can cause that much damage showed such disregard.
"We feel that sentence is too light given the consequences of his actions that day. The sentence is too light for what took place.
"It is not something simple or inconsequential, it is something that can ruin lives.
"I think when you have a case where four people have lost their lives and three of them are young children of similar ages to my own kids, it is hard to believe.
"It is not just phone calls and texts. Phones are more complicated now and take more attention, that makes it take longer to use them. It shows you just can't use them when you're at the wheel of a moving vehicle."
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