Driver’s phone to be destroyed after filming scene of fatal crash

A driver’s phone is to be destroyed after he was caught filming the scene of a fatal crash while behind the wheel of his van.

Police spotted George-Catalin Vlad, of Beechdale Road, Nottingham, filming the accident in Gamston in July, when a 57-year-old motorcyclist died after colliding with a car.

However, despite officers telling him to stop filming, Vlad just smiled at them and continued, said Nottinghamshire Police. He was pulled over by the police, who seized his phone and reported him for using a mobile phone while driving.

The 30-year-old admitted the offence when he appeared at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and was disqualified from driving for six months. In addition, JPs ordered the phone’s destruction. Vlad was also fined £395 – the highest amount possible – and told to pay £85 police costs plus a £40 victim surcharge.

After the case, Sgt Philip Broughton of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “I hope this result shows a clear message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated. The fact that his phone will be destroyed really highlights the consequences of chasing the social media limelight, as I can only speculate that the reason for him doing what he did was to share the footage.

“He had a complete disregard to what the video showed, the persons involved and the wider impact it would have on the victim’s family and friends.

“The footage should never have existed in the first place, but I’m glad that the family can now try to move on from this without having any more unnecessary grief inflicted on them, by knowing that it won’t be circulated any further.”