UK Truck Driver Jailed Over Eight Years for Fatal M6 Crash After Accessing Gambling Site While Driving
Daniel Barlow received eight years and four months for a 2022 M6 crash that killed 19-year-old Chloe Williams. He had 11.5 seconds of clear view but braked only 0.5 seconds before impact after using a gambling site while driving his HGV. Barlow also evaded initial sentencing and failed to disclose medical conditions on his license application.
SCCG Take — The case illustrates concrete enforcement outcomes when mobile gambling distracts commercial drivers, signaling regulators and operators to tighten real-time access controls on high-risk devices.
A British truck driver who accessed a gambling website while operating a heavy goods vehicle on a public motorway has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for causing a fatal crash.
Daniel Barlow, 30, received eight years and four months at Chester Crown Court on Oct. 16 after conviction on one count of causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The case, as reported by Casino.org News, centers on events from Dec. 2, 2022, when Barlow’s truck struck stationary traffic at 55 mph on the M6 near Sandbach, Cheshire.
Eleven Seconds to React
Investigators established that Barlow had an unobstructed view of the congestion for at least 11.5 seconds yet applied brakes only between 0.25 and 0.5 seconds before impact. Police linked the failure to react to repeated mobile phone interactions, including access to a gambling website, with tachograph data confirming the truck remained in motion during those periods.
The collision killed Chloe Williams, 19, who was a passenger in a Volkswagen Polo stopped in the inside lane. The vehicle’s other two occupants suffered life-changing injuries that included broken legs, a fractured skull, memory loss and persistent pain. Barlow had also failed to disclose legally notifiable medical conditions when he applied for his HGV license.
Court Condemns Evasion Tactics
Barlow initially denied the charges and then failed to appear for an Oct. 8 sentencing hearing. Police located him hiding at a friend’s home in Lancashire the following morning. The judge labeled the absence an act of cowardice and disrespect.
Barlow received a driving ban of 10 years and four months and must pass an extended test before any future license reinstatement. Williams’ family noted that while trials have concluded, their loss remains permanent. Inspector Andy Dennison of Cheshire Police stated that Barlow showed no remorse and expressed hope the sentence would bring the family some closure.
Reporting: Casino.org News
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
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