Lorry driver who caused serious Holbeach crash was on mobile phone

A lorry driver using a mobile phone caused a crash at Holbeach on Monday (Jan 16) which put four members of the same family in hospital.

Spanish national Ionita Bran turned across the path of the car which Kyle Moore was driving on the A17 at Peppermint Junction.

All four people in the car were injured. They were en route to Surfleet crematorium and Kyle’s seriously injured grandad, Eddie Clarke, missed his brother Garry’s funeral.

Kyle said Bran’s manoeuvre happened just a few yards in front of them and there was no avoiding the collision which spun the car 360 degrees.

“I honestly don’t know how we all survived,” he added. “We could have all been dead.
“It all happened so quickly. We were driving along at about 45 to 50mph and then suddenly the lorry driver, coming in the opposite direction, put a full lock on and went to turn into the junction.”

Police acted quickly on the evidence and Bran (43) was in court on Tuesday (Jan 17). Pleading guilty to driving without due care and attention, he was fined £250 and ordered to pay £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge. He also got nine penalty points on his licence.

Eddie and his wife Susan remain in hospital. Kyle (18) and his father Darren Clarke were treated and released.

Kyle praised emergency services’ response.
“Obviously things appear differently when you are in shock but it seemed like they were there in seconds,” he said. “I couldn’t fault how we were all dealt with at the scene and in hospital.”

The road layout was not a factor in the crash, but a £5m project, which includes installation of a roundabout, is due to start in May.
Nick Worth, Lincolnshire county councillor for Holbeach, said: “There have been quite a large number of accidents there which is why we are spending so much money on making it a safer junction.”

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