Lorry Driver Jailed for 5 Years After Deadly Phone Call Crash
A distracted lorry driver who caused a fatal crash while glued to a phone call has been slapped with a five-year jail sentence. Roy Woods, 57, from Tidworth, Wiltshire, admitted causing the death of motorcyclist Alan Couper by dangerous driving.
Deadly Crash on Stockbridge Road
Winchester Crown Court heard Woods, a seasoned lorry driver, smashed into two motorbikes on Stockbridge Road, Leckford at 5.15pm on April 13. Alan Couper, 63, was killed instantly at the scene. Another rider, 55, from Kings Somborne, was injured but later discharged from Salisbury Hospital.
Phone Call Distraction Blamed
Investigators from Hampshire and Thames Valley’s Joint Roads Policing Unit revealed Woods was on a hands-free call with a friend during the crash. Although his phone was legally mounted on the dashboard with headphones in, the court heard Woods was so distracted by the conversation that he failed to react when the motorbikes ahead stopped for a turn.
Dangerous Driving Comes at a Cost
Woods’ lapse in concentration tragically cost Mr Couper his life and left another motorcyclist injured. The judge handed down a hefty prison term as a stark warning to drivers about the deadly dangers of distracted driving, even with hands-free kits.
