Man Jailed for 12 Years After Horrific A303 Crash Kills Three
A reckless driver who wiped out three lives in a catastrophic crash on the A303 near Andover has been slammed with a 12-year jail sentence.
Fatal Crash Detail: Mobile Phone Distraction Blamed
Michal Antoni Kopaniarz, 39, from Donnington, Shropshire, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on 24 February after pleading guilty to causing three deaths by dangerous driving. The tragic crash happened on 25 August 2021.
Kopaniarz admitted using his mobile phone moments before ploughing his HGV into three vehicles stopped on the westbound carriageway. The victims—Alex Britton, 28, Tina Ince, 58, and Tom Watson, 30—were all killed instantly at the scene.
Desperate Dash-Cam Evidence Exposes Phone Tampering
After the smash, Kopaniarz was caught on dash-cam footage deliberately destroying his Samsung phone, breaking it in half and chucking the pieces into the verge to hide evidence of his phone use.
Police managed to recover and rebuild the phone, revealing Kopaniarz had been watching and sharing a video while driving and was typing in directions when the collision occurred.
Detective Constable Cate Paling said: “This was a catastrophic loss of life. Kopaniarz killed three people because he was using his mobile phone and not paying attention to the road. The devastating consequences of his selfish actions have torn three families apart. Nothing on your phone is worth risking lives.”
Heartbreaking Tributes from Victims’ Families
The families have spoken out about their heartbreak. The Watson family mourned Tom’s loss as “shocking and devastating,” adding, “No sentence will ever compensate us for Tom’s life.”
The Britton family described Alex as “kind and thoughtful” and “an amazing mummy” to her young daughters, calling the tragedy a “massive hole” in their hearts.
Tina Ince’s daughter Melissa said: “No court sentence will ever be enough to make up for the loss of my mum… but I am relieved justice has been done.”
Warning to Drivers: Put The Phone Down
Police urge drivers everywhere to learn from this tragedy. Using a mobile phone behind the wheel is a deadly gamble, and this heartbreaking case proves the fatal consequences.
If you know someone using their phone while driving, report it at 101 or online.
For road safety advice, visit Hampshire Police Mobile Device Road Safety.
