Lorry driver who killed three people while browsing on dating sites jailed A LORRY driver who killed three people after ploughing into a traffic jam while browsing dating websites on his phone was jailed yesterday. By Paul Jeeves

       12:47, Wed, Jan 12, 2022 | UPDATED: 12:47, Wed, Jan 12, 2022

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       Records showed that the truck driver was browsing on his phone for 40 minutes beforehand (Image: Handout)

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       Ion Onut, 41, failed to slow down before his 3.5-ton fertiliser truck crashed into the back of the queue on the A1 at 58mph. Records showed he was browsing on his phone for 40 minutes beforehand. Navigating between sites called Mystic Match and S**g Today, he had exchanged messages with women, edited his own profile and spent almost ￡50. The Romanian, who lived in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders with his family, was jailed for eight years and 10 months.

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       Judge James Adkin spoke of the "catastrophic consequences of his appallingly dangerous driving" as the trucker "trawled the internet for casual sexual partners". Other motorists watched in terror as Onut weaved between lanes on the A1 on July 15 last year. Durham Crown Court heard that a spillage had brought traffic to a standstill near Bowburn.

       Onut smashed into a Toyota Hilux, killing driver Paul Mullen, 51, and setting Onut's cab ablaze. Couple David Daglish, 57, and Elaine Sullivan, 59, were crushed to death. Their injuries were so bad relatives could not identify them. The cars of Lauren Cawton and Molly Smith were also affected. Ms Cawton suffered "life-changing injuries" in the smash.

       Trucker Michael Hosty saved Onut by hauling him from his cab. Ms Sullivan's son Junior told the court he now has an "unbearable rage" at seeing drivers on phones. Onut admitted three counts of causing death by dangerous driving and was warned he could face deportation on his release.

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