M20 London-bound Kent crash

Arran McManus, 36, died in the crash that took place on the M20 in Kent on November 25, 2025. Zvonko Tomisa, a 58-year-old lorry driver from Vidovec, Croatia, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on May 18, 2026. Chief Inspector Craig West, of Kent Police, said: "Arran McManus' death was completely avoidable.

"He was on his way to work and got caught in traffic on the M20, yet the actions of Zvonko Tomisa meant he never made it. "Mr McManus was a huge part of the Ashford community and his death has had a devastating impact. "I'd like to thank Mr McManus' family and loved ones for their support throughout our investigation.

"They have been put through a horrific ordeal and I hope they find some closure in today's verdict. "Tomisa has never offered an explanation to what happened that morning but he clearly wasn't paying attention to the road in front of him. "If anything good can come from this tragic incident, I hope it's that people look at Mr McManus' death and realise the detrimental impacts that can be caused by using a phone whilst driving.

"We have a zero tolerance policy for this at Kent Police, and will do everything we can to ensure no other family has to go through what Mr McManus' family is having to endure." Emergency services were called to the London-bound carriageway between junctions 8 and 9, near Lenham, following reports of a three-vehicle collision. Tomisa had been using his phone repeatedly in the lead-up to the crash, including messaging and video calling while driving from Dover, according to police investigations.

Zvonko Tomisa (pictured) has been jailed for 11 years. (Image: Kent Police) Dashcam footage and witness accounts revealed he ignored a 50mph sign, failed to notice stopped traffic, and only began braking a second before impact. Mr McManus, who was driving a black Nissan Qashqai, died at the scene after Tomisa's white MAN lorry struck both his vehicle and a white Scania lorry.

Tomisa was seriously injured and taken to hospital before being arrested. The driver of the Scania lorry was not hurt. Tomisa pleaded guilty on April 9, 2026 and received an 11-year prison term, along with a driving ban of 14 years and four months.

In a statement, Mr McManus' partner said: "As a family, we'd like to thank the multiple members of public and emergency services who went to help Arran on the motorway. "Life with Arran was full of energy, he was clever, witty, ambitious, always pushing himself, always making us laugh. "Even mundane moments like shopping in Tesco or cleaning the house were fun with him.

"He was one of the good ones for sure. "Arran's death has shattered our family. "We have lost a loving partner, a devoted dad, an active mentor, and a central figure in our community.

"The emotional trauma, the unanswered questions, and the permanent absence we now face cannot be measured.

"Our lives have changed forever."