A French lorry driver has been sentenced to two years in prison after causing a serious motorway crash near Ashford while distracted by phone calls.
At around 8am on Wednesday 21 February 2018, 44-year-old Jeremy Didisse collided his lorry into four stationary vehicles queuing to exit the coastbound M20 at Junction 10. The crash severely damaged two cars—a Mini Cooper and a Seat Ibiza—crushing them under the weight of the lorry. Both drivers, a man and a woman, sustained serious injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.
Despite using a hands-free kit, Didisse was found to have been making phone calls for approximately three hours before the collision, according to Kent Police. He was charged with two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and admitted to the offences.
At Canterbury Crown Court on Friday 21 February 2020, Didisse was sentenced to two years imprisonment. In addition, he received a five-year driving ban and must pass an extended driving test before he is allowed to drive again.
PC Daniel Perez from Kent Police’s Roads Policing Unit commented, “Although there are a number of legal hands-free devices that drivers can use, they are a recognised distraction for motorists. Didisse failed to react to the queuing traffic ahead of him because he was too busy focussing on his phone conversation. Two people were seriously injured that day but there could have easily been fatal consequences. When you drive a large vehicle such as a lorry, regardless of your experience, it is crucial you give it your full attention.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
