Polish lorry driver accused of killing family of four while on the phone
A POLISH lorry driver appeared in court yesterday accused of killing a mother and three children when he ploughed into a line of cars while allegedly on his phone.
Kroker was allegedly using his phone to change music when the accident happened
Tomasz Kroker, 30, was charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of Tracy Houghton, 45, her sons Ethan, 13, and Josh, 11, and her stepdaughter Aimee Goldsmith, also 11.
Father-of-one Kroker was also charged with a single count of causing serious injury in the crash near Newbury, Berkshire, last month
Ms Houghton’s partner and Aimee’s father, Mark Goldsmith, witnessed the horror from his car with his son Jake, 13.
Mark Goldsmith and his son Jake saw the accident take place before them
They were both injured in the pile-up as the family returned from their summer holiday.
Yesterday, Kroker stood in the dock before Reading magistrates, speaking only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.
He did not enter a plea.
Magistrates were told the Crown’s case would be that Kroker was using his mobile phone to change music in his cab when he ploughed into a line of traffic on the A34 on August 10.
It is believed that footage from a camera in the lorry’s cab will be used in evidence.
Tomasz Kroker could face up to 9 years in prison if found guilty
Ms Houghton and the three children, from Dunstable, Bedfordshire, died when their Vaiuxhall Corsa was crushed under a lorry in the concertina crash.
She didn’t deserve this
Four lorries and four cars were involved in the pile-up.
Another man and a teenage boy were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Nine more people were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Kroker, of Andover, Hampshire, was remanded in custody ahead of his trial at Reading Crown Court on October 10.
Several people were treated for minor injuries with eight vehicles in the pile-up
If found guilty, he could face up to nine years in prison. Ms Houghton’s mother, Jo Smith, said last month that the family had been returning home following a holiday.
A close friend of Ms Houghton, Sarah Young, 53, described her as a “really lovely person”.
“She didn’t deserve this,” Ms Young said.
“It is just devastating. I cannot get my head around it.”