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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Fatal crash driver 'used laptop' | Fatal crash driver 'used laptop' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A family of six were killed by a lorry driver who might have been using a laptop computer for directions as he drove along a motorway, a court heard. | |
| David and Michelle Statham, of Llandudno, north Wales, and their four children died in the crash on the M6 in Sandbach, Cheshire, in October. | David and Michelle Statham, of Llandudno, north Wales, and their four children died in the crash on the M6 in Sandbach, Cheshire, in October. |
| Portuguese driver Paulo Jorge Nogueira da Silva, 46, denies six counts of causing death by dangerous driving. | Portuguese driver Paulo Jorge Nogueira da Silva, 46, denies six counts of causing death by dangerous driving. |
| Mr da Silva also denies causing six deaths by careless driving. | Mr da Silva also denies causing six deaths by careless driving. |
| Earlier accident | Earlier accident |
| The court heard the Statham family were killed instantly when his 40-tonne lorry hit their Toyota Previa people carrier. | The court heard the Statham family were killed instantly when his 40-tonne lorry hit their Toyota Previa people carrier. |
| The Statham family were returning from visiting relatives in Birmingham | The Statham family were returning from visiting relatives in Birmingham |
| The Toyota was at the back of a queue caused by an earlier accident on the motorway. | The Toyota was at the back of a queue caused by an earlier accident on the motorway. |
| Andrew Thomas QC, prosecuting, said it was alleged the lorry driver was using a global positioning system on his laptop computer to work out an alternative route, because the first crash had shut the motorway. | Andrew Thomas QC, prosecuting, said it was alleged the lorry driver was using a global positioning system on his laptop computer to work out an alternative route, because the first crash had shut the motorway. |
| He said Mr da Silva had denied using the laptop while driving, but police found it was by the driver's seat with the screen turned to face the driver. | He said Mr da Silva had denied using the laptop while driving, but police found it was by the driver's seat with the screen turned to face the driver. |
| Mr Thomas told the jury: "You will have to consider whether the defendant has told the truth." | Mr Thomas told the jury: "You will have to consider whether the defendant has told the truth." |
| He said Mr da Silva had not seen the queuing traffic ahead because he was not paying attention. | He said Mr da Silva had not seen the queuing traffic ahead because he was not paying attention. |
| "If he had looked he would have seen the queuing traffic for himself because the road was straight for over a mile before the queue started. | "If he had looked he would have seen the queuing traffic for himself because the road was straight for over a mile before the queue started. |
| "He had plenty of time to see the queue because the trucks in front had been there for between one and two minutes before he arrived. | "He had plenty of time to see the queue because the trucks in front had been there for between one and two minutes before he arrived. |
| For over a mile before the point of impact the defendant was not paying proper attention to the road - it was gross inattention Andrew Thomas QC | For over a mile before the point of impact the defendant was not paying proper attention to the road - it was gross inattention Andrew Thomas QC |
| "For over a mile before the point of impact the defendant was not paying proper attention to the road. It was gross inattention," he said. | "For over a mile before the point of impact the defendant was not paying proper attention to the road. It was gross inattention," he said. |
| Mr and Mrs Statham, their sons Reece, 13, Jay, nine, and Mason, 20 months, and 10-week-old daughter Ellouise - were travelling back to Llandudno from Birmingham, where they had been visiting Mrs Statham's parents. | Mr and Mrs Statham, their sons Reece, 13, Jay, nine, and Mason, 20 months, and 10-week-old daughter Ellouise - were travelling back to Llandudno from Birmingham, where they had been visiting Mrs Statham's parents. |
| Mrs Statham, a 33-year-old financial adviser, was driving. | Mrs Statham, a 33-year-old financial adviser, was driving. |
| The family had moved to Llandudno four years ago from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. | The family had moved to Llandudno four years ago from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. |
| Mr da Silva was transporting fruit juice from Murcia, Spain, - where he lives - to a Morrison's distribution centre in Northwich, Cheshire. | Mr da Silva was transporting fruit juice from Murcia, Spain, - where he lives - to a Morrison's distribution centre in Northwich, Cheshire. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |