Shocking dashcam footage shows delivery driver smoking and eating at wheel seconds before he hit and killed elderly couple
Michael Boothman, 38, was jailed for two years last Friday after admitting causing the deaths of Brian Dickinson, 82, and his wife Ruth, 77
THIS is the moment a delivery driver is seen smoking and eating behind the wheel just seconds before he crashed and killed an elderly couple.
Michael Boothman was jailed for two years last Friday after admitting causing the deaths of Ruth Dickinson, 77, and her husband Brian, 82.
The 38-year-old driver, from Leeds, was told by a judge that the fact he was smoking at the wheel of the Mercedes box truck made his offence worse.
The driver was also in breach of his employer's policy not to smoke while driving, it was revealed.
Seconds before the fatal crash Boothman was filmed smoking and eating a snack of sandwiches and crisps, Lincoln Crown Court heard.
Related stories
At times he was seen driving with one hand on the steering wheel.
The fatal crash took place after he entered a right-hand bend too fast on the B1188 at Metheringham, Lincolnshire.
He went onto the opposite carriageway, however, and collided head-on with an oncoming Lexus.
The Lexus driver, Mr Dickinson, a farmer, and his wife Ruth, 77, a retired nurse, were both killed.
The couple from Woodhall Spa, Lincs, had been married for 56 years and were affectionately known by their family as "Grannie and Grandpa Greengrass."
Boothman, who worked for a logistics company, and his passenger Robert Fagg were both seriously injured.
Neither Boothman nor Fagg were wearing seatbelts at the time.
Boothman , 38, of Kirkstall, Leeds, admitted two charges of causing death by careless driving as a result of the incident on the morning of January 11 this year.
He was also banned from driving for three years and ordered to pass a re-test before he can have his licence back.
The collision occurred on a dark and gloomy morning when the road surface was wet as a result of earlier rain.
Boothman was in breach of his employer's policy not to smoke while driving and, although he was never charged, it was committing a criminal offence as he was smoking while his co-worker was in the cab alongside him.
Passing sentence, Judge Michael Heath told Boothman: "You simply took the bend too fast and your vehicle went into the oncoming carriageway. Mr Dickinson was driving perfectly properly and had no chance to avoid a collision.
"There are a number of aggravating factors in this case. The first is the fact that there were two deaths caused by your careless driving.
"Secondly there are the serious injuries caused to Mr Fagg and then there is the fact that you were smoking at the time.
"In these circumstances that was unlawful. It was illegal but also it was in breach of your company's policy. Their policy was that drivers should not smoke while driving so as to avoid distraction."
Clive Stockwell, prosecuting, said that Boothman dropped his speed to 40mph as he reached the bend and began to brake heavily.
"He was still smoking a cigarette with one hand. He took the bend too fast in respect of the road conditions that prevailed at the time.
"His vehicle veered to the left and in an effort to correct it he over-compensated with the result that his lorry crossed the centre line and headed towards oncoming traffic. This was an accident waiting to happen. The Dickinsons were travelling in the opposite direction.
"Mr and Mrs Dickinson did not stand a chance. They did not have any opportunity to take evasive action."
Three air ambulances were called to the crash. Mrs Dickinson was pronounced dead at the scene. Her husband was airlifted to hospital in Nottingham where he passed away three days later.
In a victim impact statement which was read out in court Lynn Richardson, one of the couple's two daughters, admitted being "very angry" with the lorry driver in the month after the collision which took her parents' lives.
She said: "We went to the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham to dad's bedside. He still had his humour and a determination to get better. We were able to say our full goodbyes to him before he died. I never got to say goodbye to mum.
"During February I felt very angry with the driver of the lorry.
"Mum and dad should have lived many more years. They have missed many future family events.
"During harvest we got a new combine. I so wanted to tell dad and to take him to see it.
"I don't think a day has passed when I haven't shed a tear. It should never have happened and my life will never be the same."
James Leonard, for Boothman, said his client suffered significant injuries himself and has since had to have a total hip replacement.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368