Distracted Driver Sentenced to Prison
A shocking case of dangerous driving has resulted in a 29-year-old man being sentenced to two years and four months in prison. Nathan Cole of Brighton admitted to causing serious injury by dangerous driving after crashing into a broken-down car on the A27 dual carriageway in Southbourne, Sussex, in December 2023.
Dashcam footage and video from inside Cole’s vehicle revealed that he was distracted by his phone while driving at 72mph, 12mph over the speed limit for his van. The collision occurred at 12:10pm on December 13, 2023, when Cole failed to see the hazard ahead on a long, straight stretch of road and struck a Peugeot car that had broken down.
The driver of the Peugeot, a man in his 60s from Hampshire, was critically injured and taken to hospital where he remained in a coma over the Christmas period. He required the amputation of his leg due to the severity of his injuries.
Cole admitted to checking social media on his phone before the crash. At Lewes Crown Court, he was sentenced to two years and four months in prison and disqualified from driving for four years and four months.
Det Con Sean Corbin from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit emphasized the gravity of the incident, stating, “This was a shocking case which has changed the life of the victim and his family forever.” He warned, “Even a momentary loss of awareness can have devastating consequences.”
The victim’s family described his injuries as a “daily reminder of a tragedy that has reshaped every aspect of our lives.” The police highlighted that it was fortunate the crash was not fatal.
This case serves as a stark warning to drivers about the dangers of distracted driving and speeding, highlighting the potentially life-altering consequences of such reckless behavior.
