‘HGV driver using mobile apps killed two in M58 crash’

A DISTRACTED HGV driver killed two people after he used mobile phone apps at the wheel including a medieval fantasy game, a court has heard.

James Majury, 33, inset, was said to have used apps including Hustle Castle, Sky Sports and Facebook from the moment he set off on his journey to about 45 minutes later when a multi-vehicle collision took place on the M58 at Bickerstaffe, Lancashire, in January 2019.

One of the vehicles struck was a minibus carrying pupils and staff from Pontville School, a special educational needs school in Ormskirk. Pupil Joe Cairns, 14, from Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, and staff member Anne Kerr, 50, from Southport, died from their injuries.

Relatives of both victims attended Preston Crown Court and from a packed gallery watched Majury enter guilty pleas to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and five counts of causing serious injury.

Francis McEntee, prosecuting, said the Crown’s case was Majury was “voluntarily distracted” for a lengthy period up to and including the collision in which he reacted “no more than half a second” before impact.

Messages were also exchanged during the defendant’s journey on the morning of January 8.

Majury was remanded in custody by Judge Robert Altham and told to expect a lengthy jail sentence on March 31.

Both prosecution and defence agreed that Majury’s actions were at the most serious end of the scale for such offending as he had showed a disregard for the rules of the road.

James Ageros QC, defending, said: “He would like to express his profound remorse and regret for his actions and for their tragic loss. One, of course, appreciates they are merely words but it is important that it is said on his behalf today. The events themselves have had a severe psychological and physical impact on Mr Majury.”

The defendant sat in the dock with his head bowed for most of the hearing. Majury, of Coppull, Chorley, arrived at court on bail with his partner and asked that he remain at liberty until his sentencing date.

Refusing bail, Judge Altham said: “In a case of such gravity he should be remanded in custody and start that sentence today.”

Following the crash close to junction three of the motorway at about 8.45am, tributes were paid to the teenager and Mrs Kerr.