A veteran truck driver has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after a fatal crash caused by his shocking distraction behind the wheel.
Neil Platt, 43, admitted to causing the death of 46-year-old father of two, Danni Aitchison, when he ploughed into stationary traffic on the M58 near Lancashire in May 2024. At the time, Platt was scrolling through his phone — with naked images flashing across his X feed — instead of keeping his eyes on the road.
The devastating collision forced Aitchison’s Hyundai Kona into the back of a tanker, instantly bursting into flames. He died on the scene while speaking to his partner on the phone.
In court, it was revealed that during his three-hour journey from Scotland to Liverpool, Platt had “persistently viewed” WhatsApp, X, YouTube, and TikTok. Police photos released afterwards showed the trucker sitting in his cab with his head in his hands moments after the fiery wreck.
Judge Ian Unsworth KC blasted Platt’s behaviour, calling it “an arrogant and selfish attitude to driving.” He added, “In short, you were a multi-ton accident waiting to happen. You willingly and without excuse chose to ignore the laws of the road.”
Although there was no proof Platt was actively searching for pornography at the exact moment of the crash, investigators said his focus on social media and adult content clearly took priority over safe driving.
Aitchison’s partner, Kerry, described him as “our hero” and said telling their children about his death was “the hardest thing I will ever do.” His daughter Ella remembered him as “a good man driven by family and a pure love of life.”
Platt, from Bootle near Liverpool, will serve two-thirds of his sentence before release and faces a seven-year driving ban. His lawyer said the trucker was “genuinely remorseful” and reminded the court that this case shows even experienced drivers can cause devastation if they fail to give the road their full attention.
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