Comment Following Sentencing Of Rhys Lowry For Causing Fatal Motorway Collision
Traffic officers from Merseyside Police have today urged
motorway drivers to cut their speed after a man was jailed for
causing a fatal collision on the M53 in Wirral last year.
Rhys Lowry, aged 25, from Wrexham in North Wales, was jailed for
six months after pleading guilty to causing the death of Jean
Murdoch from Heswall by careless driving.
Lowry's white Ford Transit van shunted 93-year-old Mrs Murdoch's
nephew's Hyundai i20 car into the back of a Ford Focus as he tried
to overtake both of them on the M53 near Raby last March.
The Hyundai left the motorway and collided with a tree causing
Mrs Murdoch to suffer multiple injuries which she later died from
in hospital a week later.
Sergeant Jason Higham, from the force's roads policing
investigation unit, said the case highlighted the real dangers of
motorway drivers not paying attention to the road ahead.
He said: "This was an absolute tragedy and one that could have
been avoided. Jean Murdoch was simply on her way home with her
nephew when they happened to be on same stretch of motorway as
Lowry.
"Our investigation found that Lowry had already driven far too
close to another motorist just minutes earlier and was clearly
unaware of just how irresponsible his driving style was.
"He had been driving at high speed with little concern for other
road users and in his haste to overtake the Hyundai and Focus,
shunted one into the back of the other causing them both to
crash.
"Mrs Murdoch suffered fatal injuries and her nephew and the
couple in the other car were lucky to escape with relatively minor
injuries, although the horror of what they went through may stay
with them the rest of their lives.
"Her tragic death and the prison sentence Lowry is starting
today should highlight to motorists the absolute responsibility
they have when at the wheel to drive safely by being aware of their
speed at all times and giving themselves plenty of room from the
vehicle in front so they have time to react safely if something
happens.
"Drivers who don't pay attention to the road ahead of them risk
causing accidents which could cost someone their life."