Lorry driver ‘searching for a podcast’ hits family’s car on major road

Raymond Catterall narrowly missed a family who were waiting beside the carriageway

A lorry driver crashed into a family’s broken-down car while he was distracted looking for a podcast on his phone, a court was told. Raymond Catterall, from Maghull, had a close call with a family waiting beside their vehicle.

The stationary car was partly in the eastbound lane when the 44-year-old hit it. Initially, Catterall claimed the car had “pulled out” in front of him, but he later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving near Bangor at Tal-y-Bont. At Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday, August 30, the judge highlighted the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving.

The judge handed Catterall an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. Prosecutor William Griffin told the court how police were alerted to a crash involving Catterall’s lorry and a car on the A55 at Tal-y-Bont on May 15 last year. The lorry had struck the rear of a Kia Rio, which was half on the road and half on the verge.

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Catterall, driving his Mercedes Benz Atego lorry, narrowly avoided hitting a family before seeking assistance from a nearby property. When police arrived, they found Catterall who explained to PC Daniel Owen that he had attempted to swerve to avoid the car.

The incident resulted in significant traffic delays. Mr Griffin said Catterall admitted he should have noticed the stationary vehicle but claimed it had unexpectedly pulled out in front of him. When questioned about potential distractions, Catterall responded with “not that he could remember.”

Simon Mintz, defending, said: “He was trying to find a podcast, for what it’s worth, but that was enough of a distraction for him to not see the car on the carriageway.” Mr Mintz said his client showed deep regret and acknowledged his “plenty of remorse”.

The court heard how Catterall had worked for Johnsons Workwear for 28 years, but now faced the loss of his driving licence. Mr Mintz said: “Is not this another illustration why none of us should use a phone while driving? “.

Judge His Honour Timothy Petts addressed Catterall, from Rufford Avenue, Maghull, stating that the crash was “entirely avoidable” and served as yet another warning against mobile phone use while driving. Judge Petts handed down a suspended sentence for the offence of dangerous driving. He further ordered Catterall to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and adhere to a three-month curfew with electronic monitoring from 7pm to 7am.

Additionally, Catterall received a 12-month disqualification for both the dangerous driving charge and the offence of using a mobile phone while driving, to run concurrently. He will be required to pass an extended retest before regaining his driving privileges.