A HARD-HITTING dashcam video of a crash which killed four members of the same family has been released by police, illustrating the dangers of using a mobile phone at the wheel.

Thames Valley Police released the graphic video today after lorry driver, Tomasz Kroker, was given a ten-year prison sentence for causing the fatal crash in August.

Our sister paper, the Oxford Mail, reported today how his lorry ploughed into a queue of cars on the A34 near East Ilsley in Berkshire, instantly killing 45-year-old mother Tracey Houghton, her sons Ethan, 13, and Josh, 11, and her partner's daughter Aimee Goldsmith, 11.

Gazette:

  • Tomasz Kroker

Their Vauxhall Corsa was pushed underneath a lorry and crushed 'to a third of its size'. 

It was revealed at court that the distracted lorry driver had signed a form the same day promising not to use his phone behind the wheel.

He admitted he had been changing music on his phone at the time of the crash and was jailed today.

Aimee Goldsmith's mother, Kate, told the Oxford Mail the sentence 'doesn't do justice to the crime.'

She said: “For all intents and purposes his use of a mobile phone whilst driving turned his lorry into a lethal weapon.

“He was so distracted he made no attempt to slow down.

“The sentence of ten years in prison will not ease our pain and suffering nor do we believe it will send a strong enough message to those who lack the self-restraint to not use mobile phones whilst driving.”

The family said they hoped this would make people think twice and bring about tougher sentences for the crime "as bad as drink driving".

Thames Valley Police chief inspector, Henry Parsons, said: “Tracey Ethan Josh and Aimee aren’t here today and Adam is injured for one simple reason Tomasz Kroker chose to use a mobile phone whilst driving.

“The families here and everyone involved ask that I reinforce how dangerous it is to drive whilst using a mobile phone and ask that we all have a collective responsibility not to do so whilst driving.

“It simply isn’t worth the risk.”

Thames Valley Police have since released the footage which shows the moments in the lead up to the smash.

The family were on their way back from a camping holiday when it happened. 

In court, the Hon. Mrs Justice McGowan said: "There was clearly gross avoidable distraction whether that's using his phone or not looking up.

"The last kilometre of his journey along the A34 the defendant may as well have had his eyes closed.

"At no point over that distance did he attempt to slow the vehicle or try to apply the brakes.

"In the dashcam footage it shows it was less than a second before the crash in which the defendant looked up."

The court heard that the driver initially blamed faulty brakes for causing the crash, but he later admitted when faced with the dash-cam footage that he was on his phone.

Speaking for the defendant Thomas Rozier said: "The harm caused by this is unfathemable, four deaths and an individual with life changing injuries.

"My client has asked that I convey to family and friends his regret and remorse for what has happened."

The 30-year-old defendant was charged with four counts of causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced to 10 years and one count of serious injury by dangerous driving and sentenced to four years to run concurrently.