A truck driver who caused the death of a teenager travelling to a concert has been convicted over the 'entirely preventable' motorway smash.
Daniel Barlow was at the wheel when he ploughed into a Volkswagen Polo on the M6 in Cheshire. British Airways stewardess Chloe Williams, 19, was one of two passengers in the car which was being driven to Manchester for the gig by her partner. As they approached junction 17, the car came to a stop in lane one due to heavy traffic.
Driver failed to react to stationary traffic
Barlow was also driving in lane one, but he failed to react to the stationary traffic in time and collided with the rear of the vehicle. Analysis later showed that he had been travelling at a constant speed of 55mph along the carriageway, and did not attempt to stop until 0.25-0.5 seconds before the collision, despite having a clear view of the traffic ahead.
Barlow was found guilty of causing a death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving following a recent three-day trial at Chester Crown Court.
Collision on M6 northbound
The 30-year-old, of Whitworth, Lancashire, has been bailed to be sentenced on Friday September 25. During the trial, the court heard that on the evening of Friday December 2 2022, Barlow was driving a white DAF truck on the northbound carriageway of the M6, between junction 16 and 17, after completing a number of deliveries in the Birmingham area.
The impact of the collision caused serious injuries to the occupants of the VW Polo, and they were all taken to hospital. Sadly, despite the best efforts of all those involved, Chloe later died, ChesterLive report. The two other occupants of the Polo both sustained a number of serious injuries, including broken legs and a fractured skull. Their injuries have led to life changing consequences for both men, including memory loss and long-lasting pain.
Investigation findings and family response
Barlow was arrested following the collision and during questioning he was unable to offer any explanation as to why he didn't slow down prior to the collision.
Following the verdict, Inspector Andrew Dennison, of the Cheshire Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Chloe was a bright young woman who was just about to embark on her dream career with British Airways, but her life was cut short because of the actions of Barlow. Our investigation showed that Chloe's death was entirely preventable, Barlow had ample time to react and slow down. However, he was clearly not concentrating on his driving, and his vehicle became a deadly weapon. This case demonstrates the importance of ensuring that all road users pay full attention when driving on our roads, as just one lapse really can mean the difference between life and death. My thoughts at this time remain with Chloe's family and while nothing will ever bring her back, I hope that the guilty verdict will provide them with some closure and allow them to move forward with their lives."
In a statement following her death, Chloe's devastated family said: "We have lost our beautiful girl in the most tragic way. She was about to start her dream career and has now had all that taken away."
