WATCH: Moment trucker is distracted by porn before deadly crash that killed beloved dad: ‘Mind-blowingly stupid’
Platt, 43, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Lancashire Constabulary
A veteran truck driver has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after causing a fatal crash that killed a British father, Danni Aitchison, in May 2024. Police photos revealed the driver, Neil Platt, sitting in his vehicle with his head in his hands following the tragic accident on a major Lancashire highway, around 40 minutes east of Liverpool.
The 43-year-old trucker was found to be heavily distracted by his phone, which displayed explicit images on his social media feed moments before the collision. Platt drove past stopped traffic and collided with Aitchison’s Hyundai Kona, which then crashed into a tanker and caught fire. At the time, Aitchison, a married father of two, was speaking on the phone with his partner.
Court proceedings revealed that during the three-hour journey from Scotland to Liverpool, Platt had repeatedly checked WhatsApp, X, YouTube, and TikTok. Although he claimed he only glanced at his phone to monitor the drive’s progress, the judge criticized his actions as reckless and dangerous.
Judge Ian Unsworth KC condemned Platt’s behavior in court, saying, “Your arrogant and selfish attitude to driving was quite breathtaking. You willingly chose to ignore the laws of the road.” The judge added, “You were a multi-ton accident waiting to happen.”
While there was no proof Platt actively searched for explicit content before the crash, the judge noted that he prioritized social media over road safety, calling his distraction “mind-blowingly stupid.” Platt pleaded guilty to causing Aitchison’s death by dangerous driving.
Platt, from Bootle near Liverpool, will serve two-thirds of his sentence in custody and faces a seven-year driving ban.
Aitchison’s partner, Kerry, recalled the heartbreaking moment the call abruptly ended. “He was just coming home to me and the kids. Their hero has gone,” she said. “Telling the kids is and always will be the hardest thing I will do in my lifetime.”
Their daughter, Ella, described her father as “a good man driven by family and a pure love of life.”
Platt’s attorney, Stephen McNally, said his client was “genuinely remorseful” and “hating himself” for the pain caused. “This case shows that even experienced drivers must give the road their full attention,” McNally added.
About Post Author
