Published at 10:37, Saturday, 19 May 2012

A TRUCK driver who admitted causing a crash on the A590 when distracted by his mobile phone has been jailed.

David Ryan, of Meadow Lane, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday.

The 26-year-old was driving his 10-tonne lorry near Newby Bridge on January 9 when he tried to answer his ringing phone.

In doing so he lost control of the vehicle and it ploughed into two cars, including a blue Vauxhall carrying a woman and two small children.

Emergency services attended the scene and had to cut several injured people from the car, which came to rest in a roadside ditch.

Seven people, including Ryan, were taken to Furness General Hospital for treatment, but no one suffered serious injuries.

Ryan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and in addition to his jail sentence was banned from the road for three years.

He will not be allowed back behind the wheel until he has passed a re-test.

A Cumbria police spokesperson said: “This conviction highlights the consequences of driving whilst using a mobile phone.

“This was a very serious accident in which David Ryan admitted he caused after using his mobile phone whilst driving.

“Thankfully no one was seriously injured or killed.

“The police will not tolerate people who use mobiles when they are driving, it is dangerous and puts people’s lives in danger and is one of the ‘fatal four’ contributors to serious accidents: mobile phones, speeding, not wearing seat belts and drink or drug driving.”

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk