HGV driver was 'distracted by porn' on phone before fatal motorway crash

A lorry driver has been sentenced to prison after he was found scrolling through social media on his phone just moments before crashing into a stationary car on a motorway, instantly killing father-of-two Daniel Aitchison. Neil Platt, 43, was reportedly 'distracted by pornography' on his device while driving his lorry from Dumfries in Scotland to Liverpool. His vehicle collided with Mr Aitchison's car on the M58 near Skelmersdale, Lancashire, on 17 May last year.

Despite Platt's claims that he never touched his phone, in-cab footage revealed him reaching for his device and scrolling through various social media apps prior to the crash. Mr Aitchison's car had been stationary for approximately a minute, but Platt failed to notice the halted traffic as he was preoccupied with an app on his phone in the seconds leading up to the collision.

Travelling at 54mph before the crash, Platt only applied the brakes 35 metres from Mr Aitchison's Hyundai Kona. The impact caused the car to burst into flames after being propelled into the back of another stationary lorry, reports the Manchester Evening News. Despite the arrival of emergency services, Mr Aitchison tragically died at the scene.

Mr Aitchison had just collected the company car from a garage in Blackpool and was heading home. He was speaking to his partner via a hands-free device when the call abruptly ended. Platt, of Daniel Close, Bootle, Merseyside, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

He admitted to the charge and today at Preston Crown Court he was sentenced to ten years behind bars. He was also banned from driving for 13 years and 8 months and will be required to take an extended driving test once eligible. Mr Aitchison's partner Kerry, who is also mother to his two children, Ella, 17, and 10 year old Jack, said in a victim impact statement: "When Danny was killed, I was on the phone to him, we were having a normal conversation about daily life, we used to speak on the phone regularly throughout the day.

"When he was hit the phone went off immediately. I thought his battery had run out of charge, I continually tried to call him back without success. I heard there had been a crash on the M58 motorway, I assumed Danny was therefore stuck in the traffic with no charge on his phone battery. I never thought at that time that he was involved in it or had come to any harm."

Kerry continued her statement, referencing the moment she discovered Daniel's death: "I was in floods of tears and inconsolable. I can remember it was a nice sunny day, and I could hear the children playing in the garden. I continually thought I am going to walk into this house and change their lives forever. Telling the kids is and always will be the hardest thing I will do in my lifetime."

She continued: "Danny was in my life for 23 years; he knew everything about me, and we did everything together. He was the one I was meant to be with and now the children have also lost their dad. I feel angry that he has lost his life in such a way especially as he was coming home from work. He didn't do anything wrong - he was just coming home to me and the kids. I loved Danny with all my heart and life will never be the same again."

In her statement, Ella said: "When my dad died, I was one week into my GCSE's. On the night of the 16th, I had run out of flashcards and had a chemistry exam the next day. It was later in the evening when I had called my dad from my nans and instantly, he was up in the car in a pair of sliders on the way to Asda. He was able to get the last stack of flashcards."

She added: "I haven't written on them flashcards since, I didn't want to see them run out. There are times when life has gotten difficult, with moments where I think 'I just want my dad.'" Speaking of her dad, Ella said: "Life has never been the same since he died. He was a good man, driven by family and a pure love of life. Even at a funeral, he could bring it to life and offer a proper commemoration to who they were.

"He was special, and he let everyone else know they were too. When I read my part of the eulogy, and looked to the people paying respects, the crowds that couldn't all fit through the door, I looked upon all the lives he had touched, and I hope for justice to who he was, like he honoured everyone else.

"There is a death of all things since last year; what was and what could have been - the memories never made and plans never fulfilled. You didn't mean to kill my dad, and all that died alongside him, but you must have known your actions could have killed someone."

Mr Aitchison's mother Jeanette described her eldest son as 'witty and cheeky'. She said in her statement: "Danny was a family man, strong in body and mind. When his dad died Danny kept us together, as the oldest son he stepped up as a father figure and took great responsibility.

"The death of Danny has impacted us all; Danny had a good relationship with every member of our family, he was a constant presence in their lives, he was the centre of our family.

"Danny was always there for our family, his extended relatives, his friends and his colleagues. Danny would do anything to help anyone."

Speaking about the impact of Platt's mobile phone use, she said: "The decision to drive whilst scrolling for a prolonged period of time on a mobile phone, let alone whilst using a large vehicle is utterly crazy, the disregarding of their training, their company procedures whilst at work has resulted in the death of our loved one who is missed by so many people."

DS Matthew Davidson, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit of Lancashire Police, stated: "Firstly, I want to talk about Danny's family. They have shown exceptional strength, especially his two children, who at such young ages have suffered an unimaginable loss, and have shown such bravery throughout proceedings.

"I know, from the way that his family have spoken about him, that Danny was a much-loved man, who was well respected in his community. He was simply on his way home from work to his family - a journey that many of us make daily. Danny got in his car that day, with the intention of making it home safely. Neil Platt, whose job was to drive a heavy goods vehicle got into his cab and knowingly scrolled mindlessly on his phone as he was driving.

"I don't doubt that Platt knew the devastation his actions could have caused. The dangers of using your phone whilst driving is so often spoken about, yet Platt recklessly ignored it. His selfish decision took the life of a father, partner, brother and son."

Darren Smith, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, stated: "The untimely death of Daniel Aitchison has caused unimaginable pain for his family and loved ones. Had Neil Platt not been using his mobile phone while driving a large lorry, he would have been able to stop his vehicle in response to the traffic ahead of him, which would have prevented the death of Daniel Aitchison. The evidence presented by the Crown Prosecution Service proved Platt was on his phone while driving the lorry and meant that Platt had little option but to admit his guilt."