Kentish Express Ashford & District
HGV driver jailed for death
A lorry driver who crushed a motorcyclist against a steel barrier on a motorway has been jailed for two years.
Alan Short, known as Andrew, died when Mateusz Pietrow’s HGV collided with his Yamaha bike on the M20 between Ashford and Maidstone, causing catastrophic injuries.
The 56-year-old engineer was heading home to Yorkshire from a trip around Europe with a friend when the Polish national trucker pulled out without indicating or checking his wing mirror or blind spot.
Having been first pushed into the barrier, Mr Short - who was looking forward to becoming a grandfather for the first time was then dragged under the lorry’s wheels. He died at the scene.
The barrier had been erected in March last year along a 15-mile stretch of the M20 to deal with traffic in the event of a no-deal
Brexit.
Operation Brock, as it was known, created a contraflow system where the London-bound carriageway was reduced to two narrow lanes. A 50mph speed limit was also introduced.
But Maidstone Crown Court heard Pietrow turned off his cruise control and accelerated to 55mph in his left-hand drive truck before hitting Mr Short as he changed lanes at about 1.20pm on Sunday September 22.
One motorist saw the danger and sounded his horn as a warning, while another later told police the lorry had performed the same manoeuvre just minutes earlier causing a car to brake sharply.
Prosecutor Daniel Stevenson said Mr Short would have been in Pietrow’s vision for at least 18-and-a-half seconds - and possibly as long as 72 seconds - prior to the crash.
However, the 31-year-old, who was heading to Northampton to deliver his load of chairs, told police he did not see the motorcyclist at all.
He denied causing death by careless driving but was convicted by a jury of seven men and five women after about two hours’ deliberation.
Passing sentence, Judge Adele Williams told Pietrow his driving fell ‘just short’ of being dangerous.
“Your failure to pay proper care and attention to your driving led to these tragic and devastating consequences,” she said.
He was also banned from the road for four years. The maximum sentence is five years.
During highly emotional scenes, the court heard of the devastating impact of Mr Short’s death on his family.
Statements were read on behalf of his wife Tanya and one of his two daughters.
They spoke of a hardworking, dedicated family man who was thoughtful, kind and conscientious, and enjoyed walking, squash and motorbikes.
Mrs Short said having met in 2004, they became ‘inseperable’ and married 10 years later.
Mrs Short wrote: “He was a doting father and looking forward to becoming a grandfather for the first time.
“He was fiercely independent and strong. I thought he was Superman and I always felt safe.
“I miss him terribly. I have no anchor or sense of identity without him.
“I cannot even start to look to the future - getting through a day at a time is enough.
“I am very grateful to have known and been married to this remarkable man.”
Daughter Annalise Lumley has since given birth to a girl - something she said he had been excited about and cried with happiness when told.