Truck driver who used gambling website at wheel jailed over Dudley 19-year-old’s death
Chloe's family said the loss of their daughter will never be over.
A truck driver who logged onto a gambling website while at the wheel has been jailed for causing the death of a 19-year-old woman.
Daniel Barlow, 30, was driving his DAF truck on the M6 on December 2 2022 when he crashed into the rear of the Volkswagen Polo in which passenger Chloe Williams was travelling to a concert, a spokesman for Cheshire Constabulary said.
Ms Williams, from Dudley in the West Midlands, later died in hospital and the two other occupants of the car suffered serious injuries, including broken legs and a fractured skull.
At Chester Crown Court on Friday, Barlow was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison after he was found guilty at an earlier trial of causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, the force spokesman said.
Police said the defendant, of Whitworth, Lancashire, was due to be sentenced earlier this month but failed to appear in court and was arrested when he was found at a friend’s house.
According to the force, the vehicles had been travelling northbound on the motorway when the Polo came to a stop as it approached junction 17, at Sandbach in Cheshire, because of heavy traffic.
Barlow, said to have been travelling at a constant speed of 55mph, collided with the rear of the car.
Later analysis showed he did not attempt to stop until about 0.5 seconds before the collision, despite having a clear view of the traffic ahead, police said.
Evidence also showed that prior to the crash he had interacted with his phone on several occasions, including logging into a gambling website.
Following the sentencing, Chloe’s family said: “The trials may now be over but for our family, the loss of Chloe will never be over.
“No verdict can bring Chloe back and no sentence can give us back the time we have lost with her.
“We are grateful to the jury who listened to the facts and found him guilty of causing Chloe’s death by dangerous driving.
“His final refusal to attend court for his scheduled sentencing showed just how little regard he holds for anyone but himself.
“We would give anything to have more time with Chloe, to hear her voice, see her smile, hold her and simply have her here with us.
“Instead, we have to carry the pain of losing her for the rest of our lives, the impact of that loss will never leave us.
“We will never stop loving her, we will never stop missing her and we will always be left wondering about the life she should have lived.”
Barlow was also banned from driving for 10 years and four months, the police spokesman said.
Inspector Andy Dennison, of the Serious and Complex Collision Investigation unit, said: “This has been a long and complex investigation, throughout which Chloe’s family have acted with integrity and dignity.
“Barlow meanwhile has shown absolutely no remorse for his actions, and no regards for the impact on Chloe’s family and friends.”