Man left paralyzed after HGV driver's 'nine seconds of inattention' caused A19 horror smash

A motorist was left completely paralysed everywhere except his face after a HGV driver ploughed into him during nine-and-a-half seconds of "inattention".

Devoted family man Keith Jamieson suffered devastating injuries, including multiple fractures to his skull, neck, pelvis and spine, and needed road-side, life saving surgery after the smash on the A19 in County Durham in November

The grandfather, who is in his 60s, now breathes through an artificial machine, will be bed-bound for life and takes a cocktail of 38 tablets every day to cope with the agony he suffers.

He requires 24-hour care, constant medical intervention, and said in a victim impact statement, completed with the help of his family: "On a simple note, it is the simple things that have been so frustrating, such as needing to scratch my nose or my face."

On the day his life "changed forever", Mr Jamieson, who worked as a roofer, had broken down in his works Ford Transit van, which was left blocking the carriageway.

He had opened the bonnet in an attempt to repair the vehicle, and remove the hazard it presented to others, when it was hit by Kevin Hubbard's HGV and ploughed into him.

Former royal navy seaman Hubbard should have had Mr Jamieson and his broken van in his sights for 340 meters, or nine and a half seconds but simply failed to see him.

Prosecutor Jolyon Perks told Newcastle Crown Court: "For about nine-and-a-half seconds, his broken down vehicle should have been within Mr Hubbard's view and he should have been taking action to avoid it."

Mr Perks told the court the road was wet at the time of the accident and the sun was out, which could have effected driving.

He added: "There was a failure to moderate his driving behaviour or, he simply switched off for nine-and-a-half seconds."

Hubbard, 57, of Lichfield Road, Sunderland, who has never been in trouble before, denied causing serious injury by dangerous driving but was found guilty by a jury after a trial.

Judge Deborah Sherwin jailed him for two years and banned him from the roads for three years.

The judge told him: "The jury heard evidence that for nine-and-a-half seconds prior to the collision, Mr Jamieson's van had been in your full view.

"It was in your view from about 340 meters away. It was only at the last moment, the last one second or so, you saw the van and you braked. This was too late and your lorry collided with the rear of the van."

Hubbard said he had not seen Mr Jamieson's van because of glare from the road.