Jail for distracted trucker who killed two

Chris Tindall
September 8, 2020

A lorry driver who crashed into a school mini bus after checking Facebook on his mobile phone, has been jailed for killing a boy and his teaching assistant.

James Majury, 33, was sentenced to eight years and 10 months after pleading guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and a further five counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Preston Crown Court heard how Majury drove his 19-tonne Mercedes HGV into the

back of a school mini bus at around 50mph, resulting in the deaths of 14-year-old Joe Cairns and teaching assistant Anne Kerr, 50.

Judge Robert Altham said: “The reason James Majury didn’t see the obvious minibus and its precious occupants in front of him is because he prioritised checking Facebook over the safety of anyone on the road that day.”

Five others suffered multiple serious injuries in the seven-car collision on the M58 close to junction 3 at Bickerstaffe.

Majury reacted less than a second before the collision, hitting the stationary Vauxhall Vivaro mini bus, containing Cairns and Kerr, who died at the scene on 8 January 2019.

Inspector Claire Pearson from Lancashire Road Policing Unit said: “Joe and Anne’s families can’t bring their loved ones back but what they have asked is that people listen to what has happened here and learn that it is never safe to use a phone whilst you’re driving.”

About the Author

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Chris Tindall

Chris Tindall started writing for the haulage and logistics industry in 2002 and has covered a broad range of significant issues, including GPS jamming by criminals, platooning and Brexit.

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