A long-distance van driver who lost concentration and crashed into the back of a stationary car on a Washington motorway has been banned from driving.
Zachary Stott, 21, admitted he failed to react in time to slow down before the collision on the northbound A194(M) at around 7.30am on Wednesday, April 9.
South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard that Stott, of Asturian Gate, Ribchester, Preston, had travelled around 120 miles from Lancashire for work within his father’s business before the incident occurred.
Prosecutor John Garside told the court that the crash was so severe the other driver’s vehicle was written off.
He said:
“The victim stated that he was on the A1 and left to go onto the A194(M) at 7.30am.
“Traffic came to a stop and his vehicle was stationary. He looked in his rear-view mirror and saw a Ford van approaching at speed. It wasn’t slowing down and crashed into the back of him.
“He heard a loud thud, and his left wheel had come off and was under his car. The Ford had spun around and was facing in the wrong direction.”
The victim was taken to hospital where he was treated for soft tissue injuries.
The court heard that Stott had no previous convictions or cautions and that two weeks after the collision, he suffered a seizure and voluntarily surrendered his driving licence to the DVLA on medical grounds.
He has since undergone medical tests which found no ongoing health issues and told the court he hopes to return to driving once he is medically cleared.
Representing himself, Stott said:
“I don’t know what to say about it. I lost concentration.
“I saw him and tried to get out of the way in time. I’ve been having flashbacks to it ever since it happened. My job is van driving, so I’m on sick pay at the moment.”
District Judge Zoe Passfield banned Stott from driving for 56 days and ordered him to pay a £120 fine, £85 in court costs, and a £48 victim surcharge.