An HGV driver who was found to have been texting at the wheel when he caused a multiple vehicle crash that led to the death of a woman has been jailed for more than four years.
Nicholas Liever originally told the police he had not been distracted at the time of the collision on the M62 near Huddersfield in September 2019.
However, an investigation found he had been exchanging text messages while driving his lorry – sending the last one at around the time of the crash. It also discovered he had attempted to delete the data from his phone, but this was retrieved by a specialist investigator.
His Volvo HGV collided with a Volkswagen Passat and the 51-year-old driver, Karen McDonagh, suffered injuries which proved to be fatal.
Liever pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Leeds Crown Court and he was sentenced to four years and four months in jail.
Detective constable Jenny Stanley, of West Yorkshire police’s major collision enquiry team, said: “This is yet another example of how dangerous using a mobile phone at the wheel of a moving vehicle can be.
“Liever has admitted responsibility for causing this collision and now has some time to reflect on his actions, which resulted in the death of a much-loved family member and impacted on the lives of those involved in what was a traumatic incident.
“Our sympathies remain with the family of Karen McDonagh and we hope that this outcome will give them some comfort.”
