HGV driver jailed over roadside death of teenager

Gary Cartmell pleaded guilty when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday to causing death by dangerous driving in the accident in North Yorkshire earlier this year.

The 43-year-old, from Hebburn in South Tyneside, had been due to stand trial, but he opted to change his plea to guilty.

The court heard that Cartmell was driving a heavy goods vehicle on the north-bound carriageway of the A1(M), about one mile past junction 57 near Stapleton, when the fatal crash happened at 10pm on January 6.

Cartmell ignored severe road and weather conditions, as well as an advisory speed limit of 30mph while travelling in a lane which was covered in snow and ice.

His truck collided with 16-year-old Jake Gray and the teenager's mother, Gillian Gray, who had got out of their Peugeot 307 car after it had hit the central reservation.

Jake, from North Shields, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, while his 47-year-old mother survived but had to be treated at Darlington Memorial Hospital for serious injuries.

Following yesterday's hearing at Teesside Crown Court, Traffic Sergeant Andrew Stow, the senior investigating officer from North Yorkshire Police, claimed the defendant had maintained that he was not to blame for the crash.

Traffic Sgt Stow said: "Gary Cartmell has not shown any remorse throughout the investigation into this tragic incident which resulted in the death of Jake Gray and left Jake's mother both seriously injured and devastated by the loss of her son. He had maintained that the crash was unavoidable and that he was not responsible.

"It was only when the case was set for trial, and, with all the evidence stacked against him, that he decided to plead guilty to causing death by dangerous driving."

Traffic Sgt Stow added: "It is staggering that a professional driver like Cartmell would completely disregard even the most basic standards of road safety.

"There is simply no excuse for this extremely dangerous behaviour and he deserves to be sent to prison for causing the death of an innocent young man who had his whole life ahead of him. One thing is certain, this result will be of little comfort to Jake's loved ones. Nothing will bring him back.

"Given the current weather across the region, this case is a stark reminder to all motorists about the importance to alter their driving to take account of the conditions."

As well as the prison sentence, Cartmell was also given a six-year driving ban.