Two lorry drivers have been jailed at Aylesbury Crown Court after their respective drink-driving and driving while using a mobile phone led to a fatal crash on the M1 near Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, which left eight people dead.
Minibus driver Cyriac Joseph was killed, along with seven of his passengers, as he was driving them to Disneyland for the August Bank Holiday last year.
Joseph had slowed almost to a halt behind the lorry driven by 31-year-old Ryszard Masierak who had slowed to a stop in the slow lane as he was at twice the legal drink-drive limit.
A second lorry, driven by 54-year-old David Wagstaff, was a few seconds behind the minibus. Wagstaff, however, was using cruise control and talking on his phone using a hands-free kit at the time. He failed to stop and ploughed into the minibus, forcing it under Masierak’s wagon.
Mr Joseph, along with Panneerselvam Annamalai, Rishi Ranjeev Kumar, Vivek Baskaran, Lavanyalakshmi Seetharaman, Karthikeyan Pugalur Ramasubramanian, Subramaniyan Arachelvan and Tamilmani Arachelvan were killed.
Four others, including a four-year-old girl, were seriously injured.
Masierak was found guilty of eight counts of causing death by dangerous driving and four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Judge Francis Sheridan said to Masierak: “What you have tried to do is blame everyone and everybody except yourself.
“In short, you are a persistent, unmitigated, if not very accomplished, liar.”
Sentencing him to 14 years in prison, Judge Sheridan added that there was “no mitigation” in his case, and that he had shown “no remorse”.
Wagstaff pleaded guilty to eight counts of causing death by careless driving and four counts of careless driving, but was cleared of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.
Judge Sheridan told him: “You had between nine and 11 seconds to see the vehicles ahead had you not been so distracted by using the phone, albeit on Bluetooth.
“You took no action whatsoever because you weren’t concentrating on what was in front of you – they were there to be seen and you didn’t see them.”
The judge acknowledged that Wagstaff had not broken the law by using a Bluetooth hands-free kit, but said: “It would be wrong of me not to take the opportunity to urge the public to download the app that deactivates your phone when you are on the move.”
He then added his thanks to the families of the victims, many of whom were in the court for the sentencing, saying: “They conducted themselves with utmost dignity which was utterly humbling, and allowed these defendants to have a fair trial.”
Masierak faces deportation to his native Poland on completion of his sentence, and both he and Wagstaff, should they wish to drive again, must take an extended retest.
About Carl Millar
Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.
Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.
With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.
Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535, or click here to send a confidential message.
