Lorry Driver Jailed for 10 Years After Horrific Crash Kills Mum and Three Kids
A Polish lorry driver who caused a deadly eight-vehicle pile-up while fiddling with his phone has been locked up for a decade. Tomasz Kroker admitted causing the deaths of Tracey Houghton, her two sons, Josh and Ethan, and step-daughter Aimee Goldsmith in a horrific crash on the A34 in Oxfordshire.
Horror Crash on A34 Leaves Family Dead
The tragedy unfolded when Kroker, distracted while changing music on his mobile, slammed into the back of the family’s car at 50mph. Tracey, 45, and the three children—Ethan (13), Josh (11), and Aimee (11)—were crushed beneath another lorry in the chain reaction smash on August 10.
Tracey’s partner, Mark Goldsmith, was driving behind with their son Jake, 13. He witnessed the devastating collision that killed his loved ones. Mark and Jake were among 12 injured in the pile-up near Newbury, Berkshire.
Judge Slams Driver’s Negligence
At Reading Crown Court, Judge Maura McGowan condemned Kroker’s reckless behaviour, saying his “attention was so poor he might as well have had his eyes closed.” The court sat in stunned silence as the grim details were read out.
Just one hour before the crash, Kroker had signed a declaration to his employer swearing he wouldn’t use his phone at the wheel. Yet in-cab footage captured him fiddling with his phone for seven seconds before ploughing into stationary traffic.
Traffic Nightmare: A34 Shut for 18 Hours
The collision involved four lorries and four cars, closing a six-mile stretch of the A34 from the M4 junction near Newbury. Emergency services scrambled as the road stayed shut for over 18 hours. Besides the fatalities, nine others suffered minor injuries treated at the scene, while two were taken to hospital.
Kroker, a father of one, was also convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He now faces ten years behind bars for his deadly distraction behind the wheel.
