Death crash driver who used two phones at wheel jailed for 6 years

The family of a man killed by a "remorseless" driver who was using two mobile phones at the wheel have pleaded with others not to repeat her stupidity.

Marina Usaceva, a mother of one, was driving a green Jaguar X-Type when she crashed into the back of a Peugeot 206, killing its driver. The 31-year-old, originally from Latvia, told police at the scene she had not been using a phone.

Examinations later found she had sent and received texts and calls on two separate mobiles shortly before the crash.

Sukhdeep Singh Johal, 27, of Welford Rd, Leicester, who had recently graduated in biomedical science at De Montfort University, died at the scene.

Speaking after she was jailed for six years at Peterborough Crown Court, Sukhdeep’s father Buhupinder Johal said no sentence would be enough to console the family. “Even 60 years wouldn’t be enough, but this is some kind of justice.

“The only thing we can hope is that others will learn from this. People think nothing of it, but using a mobile phone while driving can kill.”

Inspector Bob Turner, who oversaw the investigation for Cambridgeshire Police, said Usaceva had behaved “incredibly foolishly”. He added: “I have never seen anything like it before — it was crass stupidity.”

The crash happened on the A47 near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, at 4.30pm on March 15, 2013.

Usaceva, of Padholme Rd, Peterborough, admitted causing death by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing. She had previously been caught twice using her phone behind the wheel, the court heard.

The Jaguar was travelling at at least 70mph in a 60mph zone but witnesses said it was travelling significantly faster because it braked sharply for a speed camera, hitting Johal and causing a three-vehicle pile-up.

Usaceva wept in the dock as Judge Sean Enright jailed her for six years and disqualified her from driving for eight years.