AN OFF-DUTY paramedic from Penrith caused a fatal accident on the M6 Motorway because he was distracted by his phone.
At Carlisle Crown Court, a judge jailed 27-year-old Jesse Rees for 40 months following his guilty plea at an earlier hearing to an allegation of causing the death by dangerous driving of 76-year-old John Stanley.
The pensioner was fatally injured on the evening of April 23 last year while riding his classic Honda motorbike south on the motorway after attending an event in Scotland.
The defendant drove his Peugeot Bipper van into the rear of the motorbike.
Despite good weather and lighting conditions, he completely failed to see Mr Stanley as he rode along the motorway’s first lane ahead of him, between junctions 41 and 42, Carlisle Crown Court heard.
Witnesses saw the defendant’s van getting closer to the to the rear of the motorbike before the collision, which sent the bike and rider crashing to the road.
The police investigations revealed that over a period of more than a minute Rees’ phone was being used to access various apps, which were closed or opened. There was no evidence of pre-impact braking.
In his police interview, Rees attempted to explain his phone being used by saying that it had fallen on to the floor and he had fumbled with it as he attempted to retrieve it while driving. He said he feared it would go under his pedals.
He told officers: “I looked down to see where it was and when I looked up the motorbike was on me. I slammed on my brakes and made a collision with the bike.”
When asked about accessing apps on the phone, he said he couldn’t recall having done that and suggested it may have happened accidently.
However, this claim – that he accidentally opened and closed three different apps – was disputed by investigators who found at least nine separate actions were required by Rees to account for what occurred with the phone.
In a later interview he was further challenged on his account, including whether he had been distracted by his phone and why he did not brake up until the point of impact but he replied ‘no comment’ to those questions.
Rees, of Brougham Street, Penrith, as well as being jailed, was given a 92-month driving ban. He will not be allowed to driver independently until after he has passed an extended driving test.
After the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Deborah Story, of Cumbria Constabulary’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This was a terrible but entirely avoidable tragedy which resulted in an entirely innocent and blameless motorcyclist losing his life.
“There is no excuse for allowing yourself to become distracted at the wheel, to the point of taking your eyes of the road.
“All drivers should take steps to prevent themselves becoming distracted by their mobile phone. A simple solution is to hand your phone to a passenger whenever you get behind the wheel or, if driving along, place your phone in the glove box so it is out of sight and out of mind.”
The family of Mr John Stanley issued the following tribute:
Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr Stanley’s son Geoff said: “Today, justice was served as the young man responsible for the tragic death of our beloved dad was convicted for death by dangerous driving.
“His decision to use his mobile phone while driving caused the collision that tragically resulted in the loss of our Dad. This conviction marks the end of a long and painful chapter for our family. Our dad was truly ‘one in a million’, who lived life to the full.
“He was taken from us far too soon and the grief we feel is beyond words. He was a loving husband, father, brother, granddad and friend to all, whose presence brightened the lives of everyone who knew him.
"His sudden and senseless death has left a void that can never be filled.
“As a family, we are glad that this criminal process is finally behind us, allowing us to begin to heal from this tragic loss.”
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