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Note: This article contains video footage some may find upsetting
A 30-YEAR-OLD lorry driver has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for killing four members of the same family in a road accident after becoming distracted by the music on his phone.
Tomasz Kroker, of Andover, Hampshire, had pleaded guilty to four counts of causing death by dangerous driving earlier this month.
Kroker had been driving a lorry and was changing the music on his phone when he smashed into a stationary line of traffic on the A34 road near Newbury in Berkshire, England, at about 5pm on the 10 August.
He had been distracted from the road for nearly a minute and had covered one kilometre in his vehicle, as evidenced by the two dashcams in the truck – one facing the road and the other facing Kroker.
Speaking outside court, Aimee Goldsmith’s mother Kate made a highly emotional statement about the loss her family has suffered:
“Today Tomasz Kroker has been sentenced for killing much-loved members of our family,” she said.
However, in our eyes the sentence does not do justice to the crimes committed.
Mr Kroker made the decision to change the music on his phone while driving a lorry at 50 mph.
A sentence of 10 years in prison will not ease our pain and suffering, nor will it send a strong enough message to those who lack the self-restraint to not use their mobile phones while driving.
Today’s outcome must serve as a reminder to us all of our responsibilities every time we drive, and that the decisions we make can be fatal. Our children lost their lives because of the reckless actions of Tomasz Kroker, but we are not the only family to have suffered due to what is perceived by many as a minor and inconsequential crime, a crime that takes place on our roads every day.
We urge you to make a personal commitment not to use a mobile phone while driving, and make our roads safer for everyone.
Collision
45-year-old Tracy Houghton, her two sons Josh (11) and Ethan (13), and her step-daughter Aimee Goldsmith (11) all died almost instantly in the impact.
Five further people were injured in the collision, while Aimee’s father and brother were in the car directly behind that in which their family members died.
When the truck hit them the car driven by Tracy Houghton was forced beneath a stationary lorry and crushed to one third of its normal size.
Footage shown in court today showed Kroker’s look of horror just before the impact between his lorry and the stationary vehicles.
“This was not just a tragic accident, but a death caused by Kroker’s inattention and distraction,” said Gavin Hernandez, district crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service.
The slow-moving vehicles were clearly visible to Kroker for a considerable time, and the three lorries were stationary for 16 seconds prior to the collision, but Kroker was oblivious to the approaching danger.
Kroker had initially claimed that his brakes had failed, but changed his story when confronted with the dashcam footage from his truck.
“It is unimaginable to think of the emotional impact that this incident will have on the man and teenage boy, who witnessed, at close range, the deaths of four members of their own family,” Hernandez added.
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Helen mc enree & a very sensible positive idea in the same sentence? Is it April 1sr already?
@Mary Linton: You would think if a pilot kept on crashing planes, they’d be sacked, but the same ineptitude is fine in politics, apparently!
@Mary Linton: I know right? I thought DOGE were cutting all this.
@Louis Jacob: Apologies, lost me there….. isn’t DOGE an American financial accountability department?
@Mary Linton: you’re a bore
Seems reasonable.
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: you obviously don’t havw school going children . These children need massive supports some are non verbal some very verbal so putting in a student. Teacher is like letting a trainee electrician loose to rewire a hole house . No experience .
@Karen Marten: if alternative is no teacher, then put the kids first. Cop on.
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: you have no cop on how would you .
@Karen Marten: are u a parent. I doubt it you know nothing.
@Karen Marten: I don’t think theyre asking the trainee teachers to run the school either. The point is to train teachers withing the special school setting. Can’t see any issue with this.
@Mindful Muinteoir: When I taught deaf and special needs children trainee teachers would spend time in the classroom with us. This showed them how we sometimes have to adapt our teaching to include all children equally. It also gave them an insight into what being a SEN teacher requires should they wish to go down that path.
@Luas Vuitton – Penneys Drag Queen: So you don’t believe that children with special needs deserve to have teachers who are specifically trained to teach these children and to meet their needs? Shameful!!
@Mindful Muinteoir: Wow, how about they get primary school teachers to start lecturing in third level institutions? And don’t tell me that’s not the same thing, it is.
@Ann Reddin: Steady up. It’s placement as part of their studies and they would be supervised by qualified teachers at all times. Experience is the best way to learn anything. This is a positive step
Anything Master minded by this silly woman, is bound to be a disaster!
@Brian Hunt: Play the ball Brian.
It’s a great idea.
They’re already doing it so makes sense.
Any measure that will address the early intervention for those with Special Needs in schools must be welcomed
Great idea, but unions won’t allow it as they’ll put teachers first as usual.
@Allo Allo: unfair.
@Allo Allo: you obviously did’nt bother to read the article. The INTO came up with this idea first, you gobdaw.
‘Something something… teachers bad’ and so on
@Allo Allo: how is it a great idea these trainee teachers can barely teach mainstream kids my child is in 6th class a crucial year a a newly grad teacher was put to them be more suited with junior or senior infants. So how is it a good idea to do the same with special need kids. No no plenty of years of experience is needed for that type of teaching
And where are these people being forced into these positions going to live?
Pay them properly so they decide to stay in Ireland and after turning the masters in education into a cash cow students spend €10000 to qualify
I agree with this. I only said something similar a few weeks ago. Main stream teachers just think 1 way and that’s all kids are the same when that’s not the case. I’ve seen it so many times and it’s annoying.
@darren guthrie: absolute nonsense statement
have your say