In what is thought to be a regional first, a motorist in Northamptonshire has been charged with causing serious injury by careless driving after a lorry driver suffered psychological harm following a fatal collision.
Cameron Bryce (pictured), 23, has now been jailed for five years after pleading guilty to causing a collision which led to the death of a father of three young daughters.
Bryce, the driver of a Ford Transit, also admitted to having taken cocaine and cannabis the night before the crash on 17 November 2022 on the A43 between Bulwick and Blatherwick.
An investigation by police found that Bryce crossed onto the wrong side of the road at around 7.30am and collided with a DAF truck, causing it to veer into the southbound carriageway and strike a Ford Courier van, driven by 32-year-old Sam Morris.
Morris was pronounced dead at the scene.
Northamptonshire police said the lorry driver continues to suffer significant mental trauma as a result of what occurred and it spelt the end of his 30-year driving career.
He said the incident left him with post-traumatic stress disorder and a trauma-induced neurological condition which causes seizures.
In his victim personal statement, the HGV driver said: “Every day since November 17 has been an unimaginable nightmare.
“Mentally and physically, I will never recover. “
Addressing Bryce, he said: “You have taken away my independence, ability to do the job I loved, provide a secure future for my children, and left me with a lifetime of unmeasurable pain.”
While on bail in relation to Morris’ death, Bryce was pulled over by police for an insurance check and he was given a drugs wipe test which came back positive for cannabis.
He was arrested again for driving with a controlled drug above a specified limit and for that offence he was disqualified for 16 months.
At a sentencing hearing for the fatal collision, Bryce was jailed for five years and seven months for causing Morris’ death. He was also disqualified from driving for nine years and five months and for the charge of causing serious injury by careless driving/inconsiderate driving, he received a further 15 months to be served concurrently and disqualified from driving for three years, also concurrent.
In her victim personal statement, Katie Stone, the partner of Morris said: “Sam’s death has left a hole in our hearts that will never be filled.
Addressing Bryce, she added: “You have forever etched a pain in my children that no matter how hard I try I’ll never remove, and for that I’ll never forgive you.”
Speaking after the court hearing, investigating officer detective constable Rae Pegg at Northamptonshire Police, said: “This case represents an absolute tragedy for all the victims and their families.
“On that morning, Sam Morris was heading to work to support his family when through no fault of his own, his vehicle was involved in a collision caused by a man whose only explanation for his actions was a momentary lapse in concentration.
“Cameron Bryce chose to get behind the wheel after taking illegal drugs the previous night, and I am so pleased that his culpability has been recognised with this significant custodial sentence.
“The lorry driver involved has also suffered catastrophic psychological trauma because of this collision, which has also had a significant knock-on effect on his loved ones.
“Bryce’s cavalier attitude to drug driving was summed up by his decision to get behind the wheel again after taking cannabis, despite knowing he was under investigation for causing a man’s death.”
