Dashcam footage shows distracted HGV driver crash into stationary cars, killing one

Warning: Viewers may find the following footage distressing

This is the moment a distracted HGV driver ploughs into the back of queuing traffic killing one driver and leaving another with life-changing injuries.

The dashcam footage shows the Volvo lorry being driven by Peter Tootle, 61, crashing into the stationary vehicles and shunting them along.

Father-of-two Mark Done, 51, was killed in the M53 motorway pileup and two other people were left with serious injuries.

At Liverpool Crown Court, Tootle, of Blacon, Chester, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and banned from driving for five years.

The footage shows the lorry smash into the rear car at speed before leaving a trail of destruction as cars are shunted forward in an "avoidable" collision.

It was released after families of those injured gave their consent for it to be shown in order to publicise the devastating impact of the collision and to serve as a warning to other drivers to pay attention behind the wheel.

The fatal collision happened on the M53 in Wirral, Merseyside, on September 30, 2014, as traffic queued on the southbound lane of the motorway, close to the junction four turn-off at Bebington.

Eight other people received minor injuries.

Traffic had been at a standstill while emergency crews dealt with an earlier unrelated collision close to junction four.

Advance warning signs including advice to reduce speed were in place following the earlier collision.

Constable Darran Doyle, from Merseyside Police's road policing unit, said: "This was a significant incident which has had a devastating impact on a number of families.

"This was an avoidable collision which did not need to happen."

Tootle was sentenced to 30 months for causing death by dangerous driving, and 25 months for causing serious injury while driving dangerously, to run concurrently.

Additional reporting by the Press Association