A lorry driver crashed into a broken-down car on the A55 while he was distracted by his phone, searching for a podcast. Raymond Catterall, 44, narrowly missed hitting the family who were waiting beside the carriageway. The stationary car was partially on the eastbound lane when the incident occurred. Initially, Catterall claimed that the car had “pulled out” in front of him, but later admitted dangerous driving on the stretch at Tal-y-Bont near Bangor.
A judge at Caernarfon Crown Court highlighted the incident as a stark reminder of why drivers should not use phones while behind the wheel. He sentenced Catterall to an eight-month jail term, suspended for 18 months. Prosecutor William Griffin told the court that police received a report of a two-vehicle crash on the A55 eastbound carriageway at Tal-y-Bont on May 15 last year at 2 pm. The defendant’s lorry had collided with the rear end of a car which had been half in the inside lane and half on the verge.
Catterall had driven his 7.5-tonne Mercedes Benz “Atego” model lorry into the Kia Rio, narrowly avoiding the family. After the collision, Catterall left his cab and sought help from a nearby property. When police found him there, he told PC Daniel Owen that he had swerved to avoid the car. The aftermath of the collision caused significant delays, the court heard. Mr Griffin said Catterall acknowledged he should have seen the stopped vehicle but claimed it pulled out in front of him.
On whether he had been distracted, Catterall said he could not recall that, Mr Griffin said. Simon Mintz, defending Catterall, said: “He was trying to find a podcast, for what it’s worth, but that was enough of a distraction for him to not see the car on the carriageway.” He noted Catterall’s deep regret and remorse for what happened. Mr Mintz highlighted his client’s long service of 28 years at Johnsons Workwear, describing him as having worked there as “man and boy,” and pointed out the imminent loss of his driving licence.
Speaking to Catterall, of Rufford Avenue, Maghull, Merseyside, His Honour Timothy Petts described the crash as “entirely avoidable” and reiterated the perils of using a mobile phone behind the wheel. The judge acknowledged Catterall’s record of previous good behaviour and handed down a suspended sentence for dangerous driving. The defendant was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and adhere to a three-month curfew with electronic tagging. Additionally, Catterall faces a 12-month disqualification period for each charge of dangerous driving and using a mobile phone while driving.
The sentences are to run simultaneously, and the judge said Catterall must pass an extended re-driving test before being permitted to drive again.