French Lorry Driver Jailed for Causing Serious Crash on M20 While Phone Chatting
A French lorry driver has been locked up for two years after causing a nasty motorway smash near Ashford while distracted on his mobile phone.
Crash on Busy M20 Junction
At around 8am on Wednesday 21 February 2018, 44-year-old Jeremy Didisse slammed his lorry into four stationary vehicles queuing to exit the coastbound M20 at Junction 10.
The crash wrecked two cars—a Mini Cooper and a Seat Ibiza—crushing them under the lorry’s bulk. Both drivers, a man and a woman, suffered serious injuries and were rushed to hospital.
Distracted by Calls for Hours
Despite using a hands-free kit, Didisse was found to have been making phone calls for around three hours before the collision, Kent Police revealed.
He was charged with two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and admitted the offences.
Jail, Ban, and Tough Retest
At Canterbury Crown Court on Friday 21 February 2020, Didisse was sentenced to two years behind bars. He also received a five-year driving ban and must pass an extended retest before getting back behind the wheel.
“Although there are a number of legal hands-free devices that drivers can use, they are a recognised distraction for motorists,” said PC Daniel Perez from Kent Police’s Roads Policing Unit.
“Didisse failed to react to the queuing traffic ahead of him because he was too busy focussing on his phone conversation. Two people were seriously injured that day but there could have easily been fatal consequences. When you drive a large vehicle such as a lorry, regardless of your experience, it is crucial you give it your full attention.”
