20 rubberneckers collared by police for taking photos of this crash as they passed
AT least 20 motorists who took pictures of a road crash yesterday will be prosecuted, police say.
The drivers used mobile phones to record the aftermath of the crash between four lorries – one of which was carrying 7.5 tonnes of teddy bears.
Two lorry cabs were ‘obliterated’ in the accident on the A14 near Cambridge, which closed the road for seven hours, and two of the drivers needed hospital treatment for minor injuries.
By yesterday afternoon, about 20 ‘rubberneckers’ were reported to have been stopped for using a mobile phone while driving and more may face action.
They were warned they would be sent letters within the next two weeks informing them of court proceedings. They are likely to face charges including careless driving, which carries a maximum £5,000 fine and up to nine penalty points.
A Cambridgeshire police spokesman said the force had taken action before in similar circumstances but the number was ‘particularly bad on this occasion’. He added: ‘Using a mobile phone at the wheel is one of the “fatal four” driving offences, along with speeding, not wearing a seat belt and drink or drug driving.
‘Your reaction times are 50 per cent slower and you are four times more likely to have a collision.’
One motorist who was caught up in the chaos said: ‘I was stuck in traffic for more than an hour and, when I approached the scene of the crash, it became obvious some of that was caused by people slowing down to take a look.
‘I saw someone taking a photo on their phone. They were holding up cars behind them and were weaving slightly on the road.’
The crash was at about 5.45am on the westbound A14 near Histon, on the outskirts of Cambridge.
Firefighters had to cut one injured driver from his cab and 16 miles of road was closed in one direction for seven hours.
‘By lunchtime only one lane had been reopened and in rush hour drivers complained of being held up for two hours as diversions caused further havoc on other roads.
Ryan Ferrera, who drove past the crash site travelling in the other direction, said: ‘Two lorries had crashed into one another. Both cabs of the lorries are totally obliterated. The first lorry had stopped and crashed into the side barrier.’