Man, 20, drove into back of car at 67mph while scrolling through songs on phone, killing driver

A 20-year-old who had been scrolling through songs on his mobile phone ploughed into a car at 67mph, killing the driver.

Ryan Richardson, from Brough, in East Yorkshire, was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail at Hull Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Humberside Police said Richardson, who was driving a Toyota Yaris, failed to slow down as he approached traffic, which was almost at a standstill, between junctions 37 and 38, on the M62, on February 26 last year.

The motorway had been reduced to two lanes from three, due to roadworks, and a 50mph speed restriction was in place with “clear signage displayed to communicate this to road users”.

Distracted by his phone, Richardson failed to slow down, and was still driving at 67mph when he ran into the back of a Toyota Aygo.

The driver, a 68-year-old man, died at the scene.

During his police interview Richardson stated that he had been distracted by his mobile phone, scrolling through songs on a music app, and failed to spot the standing traffic in time.

Serious Collision Investigation Unit Sergeant Rob Mazingham, from Humberside Police, said: “This tragic incident and the actions of Richardson on that afternoon in allowing himself to be distracted by a mobile phone show only too clearly that it only takes one second to take a life.

“By using his mobile phone whilst driving, Richardson has caused the death of a man whose family will have to live with their heartbreaking loss for the rest of their lives.

“Every fatal collision we attend is a tragedy that didn’t need to happen, and behind every incident is a person – someone’s parent, partner, child, sibling, or best friend.

"In almost every case, it could have been prevented. Our message is simple: Drive safe, every time."

Richardson has also been banned from driving for six years.