A truck driver who caused the death of a 19-year-old woman from Dudley in a motorway crash while logged into a gambling site has been jailed. Daniel Barlow, 30, was driving his DAF truck on the M6 on December 2, 2022, when he crashed into the back of a Volkswagen Polo near junction 17 at Sandbach, Cheshire.
Chloe Williams, from Dudley, was a passenger in the car and later died in hospital. Two other occupants of the car suffered serious injuries, including broken legs and a fractured skull.
Jailed at Chester Crown Court
Barlow, from Whitworth, Lancashire, was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving following a trial. He was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday (October 16) to eight years and four months in prison.
The court heard that Barlow had been driving at a constant speed of 55mph, failing to brake until just half a second before impact. Analysis later revealed he had interacted with his phone several times before the crash, including logging onto a gambling website.
Family's statement
Chloe's family described their loss as permanent and deeply felt. In a statement, they 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.
"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."
Investigation and sentence
Barlow was also banned from driving for 10 years and four months. Inspector Andy Dennison, from 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."
