Fatal A1(M) crash caused by lorry driver using mobile phone
- 2 years ago
A lorry driver who killed three people after ploughing into traffic while browsing dating websites made a tearful apology in a documentary released by Durham Police.
Onut’s cab burst into flames and careered 100 metres along the A1(M) at Bowburn in County Durham in horrific scenes which were captured on dashcam in July 2021.
He was jailed for eight years and 10 months at Durham Crown Court after admitting three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
Couple David Daglish and Elaine Sullivan from Seaham, County Durham, and Paul Mullen from Washington, Tyne and Wear, died instantly.
The judge told the 41-year-old it would have been bad enough if he had fallen asleep, but Onut had been trawling the internet for sexual partners, and his last interaction on his mobile phone had come just seconds before impact.
Onut agreed to be interviewed in prison as part of a documentary produced by Durham Constabulary’s media team.
Onut’s cab burst into flames and careered 100 metres along the A1(M) at Bowburn in County Durham in horrific scenes which were captured on dashcam in July 2021.
He was jailed for eight years and 10 months at Durham Crown Court after admitting three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
Couple David Daglish and Elaine Sullivan from Seaham, County Durham, and Paul Mullen from Washington, Tyne and Wear, died instantly.
The judge told the 41-year-old it would have been bad enough if he had fallen asleep, but Onut had been trawling the internet for sexual partners, and his last interaction on his mobile phone had come just seconds before impact.
Onut agreed to be interviewed in prison as part of a documentary produced by Durham Constabulary’s media team.