'Daydreaming' death crash driver sent to jail

Johnny Vos, 47 of Axel, Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, Holland, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court after being found guilty of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving after a six-day trial ended yesterday. He was also banned from driving for three years.

The court heard how Hazel Croucher, 48, and her passenger Kerry Sharpe, 47, both of Folkestone, Kent, were killed after Vos' heavy goods vehicle drove into the back of their car on December 21 2006. The pair, who were close friends and worked together as probation officers, were returning home from a colleague's leaving party when the accident occurred near junction nine of the M20.

Vos, who admitted during the trial that he had been daydreaming and had also been distracted by his laptop, did not realise that vehicles ahead of him were slowing down and did not apply his breaks in enough time to stop his lorry from crashing into the back of their car.

As he sentenced Vos, Mr Justice David Bean said: "You had half a mile in which to slow down and anticipate that you had to stop. Instead, you did not react until almost the last minute and you ploughed into the back of their VW Golf, pushing it under a horse box. Both Hazel Croucher and Kerry Sharpe were crushed to death."

Concentration vital

Mr Justice Bean also referred to evidence given by a witness during the trial who said he had seen a "sea of red lights" ahead.

He continued: "You admitted you had been daydreaming. If you had been concentrating on the road you would have seen the 'sea of breaking lights'. As a result of this, two people have been killed."

During the trial the jury heard that Vos, a diabetic, showed no evidence of sleep deprivation or illness brought on by his condition following his arrest. However, after sentencing Vos, Mr Justice Bean said he believed the Government should look at laws which allowed foreign nationals who are insulin dependent to drive heavy goods vehicles on the UK's roads, when British citizens were not.

Esther Schutzer-Weissman, defending Vos, said in mitigation that he had previously had an "exemplary" driving record and had never had any accidents in the almost 20 years he had been a lorry driver.

As he left the dock, Vos said, "I'm sorry" to Ms Sharpe's family who were sat in the public gallery.

Commenting on the case, PC Julian Barton of Kent Police's serious collision investigation unit, said: "This demonstrates the need to apply full consideration to the matter of driving and not allow your mind to wander and do other things. Concentration on driving is 110% important."