Shocking moment lorry driver ‘looks for a podcast’ on his phone and smashes into a car – narrowly avoiding a family stood beside the road
This is the shocking moment a lorry driver who was looking for a podcast on his phone smashed into a car narrowly missed a family stood on the road.
In dash-cam footage Raymond Catterall, 44, can be seen driving on the A55 near Bangor with his phone in one hand while looking up and down from the device.
Up the road a stationary car can be seen which Catterall fails to notice. His lorry then smashes into the side of the car and almost hits people stood on the side of the road before he veers off the road and crashes into a bush.
Catterall, who is from Maghull in Merseyside, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Caernarfon Crown Court. The judge sentenced him to eight-month in prison, suspended for 18 months.
Prosecutor William Griffin told the court how police were alerted to a crash involving Catterall's lorry and a car on the A55 on May 15 last year. The lorry had struck the rear of a Kia Rio, which was half on the road and half on the verge.
In dash-cam footage Raymond Catterall, 44, can be seen driving on the A55 near Bangor with his phone in one hand while looking up and down from the device
Up the road a stationary car can be seen which Catterall fails to notice. His lorry then smashes into the side of the car and almost hits people stood on the side of the road
When police arrived, Catterall explained to PC Daniel Owen that he had attempted to swerve to avoid the car.
Mr Griffin said Catterall admitted he should have noticed the stationary vehicle but claimed it had unexpectedly pulled out in front of him.
When questioned about potential distractions, Catterall responded with 'not that he could remember.'
Simon Mintz, defending, 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.' Mr Mintz said his client showed deep regret and acknowledged his 'plenty of remorse'.
The court heard how Catterall had worked for Johnsons Workwear for 28 years, but now faced the loss of his driving licence.
Mr Mintz said: 'Is not this another illustration why none of us should use a phone while driving? '.
Catterall's vehicles then veers off the road and crashes into foliage at the side of the bust A road
Catterall, who is from Maghull in Merseyside, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Caernarfon Crown Court (pictured). The judge sentenced him to eight-month in prison , suspended for 18 months (stock image)
Judge Timothy Petts addressed Catterall stating that the crash was 'entirely avoidable' and served as yet another warning against mobile phone use while driving.
As well as the suspended sentence, Judge Petts ordered Catterall to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and adhere to a three-month curfew with electronic monitoring from 7pm to 7am.
Additionally, Catterall received a 12-month disqualification for both the dangerous driving charge and the offence of using a mobile phone while driving, to run concurrently. He will be required to pass an extended retest before regaining his driving privileges.