Wakefield lorry driver jailed at Nottingham Crown Court after causing death of Bingham husband and father on the A46 at East Bridgford
A lorry driver has been jailed for more than four years after causing the death of a husband and father. Daniel Loft -- known as Danny -- was killed when a lorry crashed into his flatbed truck, which had broken down on the A46 northbound near East Bridgford on December 12, 2024. Nottingham Crown Court heard the driver of the lorry, Colin Longbottom, 63, had been using a built-in touch screen, failing to pay enough attention to the road and crashed into Danny's stationary vehicle.
Danny, 37, of Bingham, had just exited his truck via the passenger's side door and was struck by the lorry, sustaining serious head injuries.
He was taken to Queen's Medical Centre and treated in intensive care for 18 days. Sadly his injuries were not survivable and he died on December 30, 2024, leaving behind his wife Holly and two children. Internal CCTV in the cab captured Longbottom looking down for prolonged periods and taking intermittent glances at the road ahead, with the court hearing his eyes were off the road for approximately four seconds prior to the collision.
During a police interview, Longbottom, of Woodhouse Road, Wakefield, told officers he had been using the touch screen in an effort to turn off his fog lights, but accepted his driving fell far below the standards of a competent driver. As part of the police investigation, Longbottom's mobile phone was examined and detectives found he had been using the device minutes before the collision to send Facebook messages and make calls which were not completed by voice activation, although he was not using his phone at the time of the crash.
Longbottom, of Woodhouse Road, Wakefield, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving on January 6, and today (Tuesday) was sentenced to four years and five months in prison, and disqualified from driving for five years.
Passing sentence, Judge Rupert Mayo said: "These cases are always unbelievably tragic. There are no winners in cases such as these and it would be wrong of anybody, myself included, to try and value Danny's life in weeks, months or years.
"You were driving on the A46 while trying to operate the fog lights and you failed to observe the hazard in the carriageway. "You accepted the occasional glances were insufficient to properly register what was ahead of you. You should not have taken your eyes off the road.
You were driving a thunderous vehicle capable of causing catastrophic damage. "You took your eyes off the road for at least four seconds. That was why this was fairly and squarely dangerous driving.
"Your life has been utterly ruined by what happened on 12 December 2024, as have the lives of those who loved Danny Loft." Danny was well known and respected in the local community with his involvement in football coaching for Cotgrave FC and running his own soccer school in Cropwell Bishop. Danny's wife Holly said that his death has "not only impacted his friends and family, but the many children that have grown up with Danny coaching and mentoring them".
Paying tribute to him, Holly said: "Our family has been left completely broken after the loss of the most amazing husband, father, son and brother.
"Because of the senseless actions of one man's dangerous driving, my husband left for work as he did every day, never to return home to his wife and two beloved children. "The loss of Danny has been felt deeply by many and he is sorely missed by everyone who felt his kindness. "We would like to thank the police and BRAKE - the road safety charity - for their hard work and support this past year."
Following the sentencing, Collision Investigator Georgina Luke, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "In just a few short moments, a life was lost and it should not have been.
"The devastation Longbottom caused by the manner of his driving is immeasurable and he will have to live with the guilt for the rest of his life.
"As Longbottom begins his sentence, I sincerely hope that other drivers will take note of the potential consequences of failing to pay due attention to the road ahead.
"Our thoughts remain with Danny's family, who have all been so brave throughout the investigation process after suffering such a devastating loss."