A lorry driver, distracted whilst at the wheel, has today been jailed for causing a collision which resulted in the death of a woman.
Leon Stott, 35, of St David’s Road, Leyland (pictured in this video) was sentenced to three years and four months at Preston Crown Court today.
Stott pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in July.
The incident happened at around 10:10am on Tuesday, January 8th 2019 in queuing traffic on the M58, following a previous collision around an hour before at junction 3, which resulted in the deaths of Joe Cairns, 14, from Radcliffe and Anne Kerr, 50, from Southport.
A partial road closure had been put place between junction 3 and junction 4, and a 50mph speed limit had been introduced whilst the first incident was being investigated and to allow the built-up traffic to move.
After entering the M58 at Orrell, Stott drove his lorry along on the westbound carriageway and after setting cruise control at 56mph, diverted his attention from the road and subsequently, the 50mph speed alert signs whilst he adjusted the heat, ventilation & radio controls.
As a result, he did not see the speed warning or the standing traffic ahead. His lorry ploughed into the back of a Ford Transit van which then in turn went into the back of a Ford Fiesta. This was subsequently shoved into the back of an Audi A6.
The crash caused serious damage to the cars and a number of people were badly injured.
The Fiesta driver, 91-year-old Margaret Harrison from Orrell died from her injuries just over a week later on January 19th.
The Transit driver, a 54-year-old man from Goldbourne, suffered serious back and chest injuries, with the passenger, a 51-year-old man from Radcliffe, receiving a cut to his head.
The Audi driver, 40, from Bradford sustained skull and facial fractures along with a chest injury.
A HGV and another Ford Fiesta were also affected but thankfully, none of the occupants were injured.
Head of Road Policing, Ch Insp Sue Bushell said:“There are no winners in this case. Not only does Stott, who admitted what he’d done straightaway, have to live with his irresponsible actions causing the death of Margaret Harrison, there is also the lasting impact on the injured.”
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