West Cumbrian lorry driver’s ‘momentary lapse’ caused serious crash

Michael Moore, 62, who had an unblemished 30-year professional driving career before the incident, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court after he admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving on the A591 near Kendal. Prosecutor Tariq Khawam outlined what happened. The defendant was driving in darkness along the road on October 8 last year when he switched lanes, suddenly pulling his HGV to the right, and into the path of a second lorry that was driving in the outside lane.

The resulting collision saw the second lorry collide with the rear of Moore's DAF HGV, leaving the 27-year-old driver with a serious leg injury. The defendant had intended to get his lorry into the central reservation so he could perform a U-turn but he failed to indicate and failed to properly check his rear-view mirror, leaving the second lorry driver with no time to react. "Following the incident, the police were called by Mr Moore as a result of him immediately attending the HGV vehicle driven by [the victim]," said Mr Khawam.

The injured driver was taken to Preston Royal Infirmary. Moore wrongly believed he had checked his mirror and indicated but dashcam footage of the incident showed that was not the case. The victim was away from work for 28 weeks and had only recent started to drive professionally again.

The injury had prevented him returning to his role as captain of a local cricket team. He also reported waking up from nightmares in which he relived the crash. Moore, of Little Broughton, near Cockermouth, had told police he believed his driving had been more "reckless" than dangerous.

Andrew Gurney, defending, said the defendant - a professional driver for the last 30 years - had been "truly distressed" by what happened. "He can't believe that he did this," said the barrister. The standard of driving - featuring a failure to indicate while switching lanes - was just over the threshold of dangerous, he suggested.

Mr Gurney added: "It was a momentary lapse - absentmindedness more than anything." Judge Michael Fanning noted Moore had never previously put a foot wrong, and he had remained and the scene and helped the other driver. But all drivers, pointed out the judge, have a duty to look out for other road users. "You simply failed to do that; I accept it's a moment, but moments can change people's lives."

The judge imposed a 12-month community order with 200 hours unpaid work.

Moore was banned for two years and must pass a mandatory retest before he can drive independently again, though he said he not wish to return to driving.