Families describe heartache after crash on A1(M) in Durham

Couple David Daglish and Elaine Sullivan from Seaham, and Paul Mullen from Washington, were in stationary traffic when a Scania carrying fertilizer ploughed into them at 58mph on the A1(M) near Durham.

Ion Onut first hit the hit the back of the Vauxhall Crossland containing Mr Daglish, 57, and Ms Sullivan, 59, then smashed 51-year-old Mr Mullen’s Toyota Hilux under another lorry before carrying on along the road, injuring three others.

Durham Crown court heard Onut had been using adult dating sites and his last interaction on his phone was in the seconds before the collision.

Read more: Driver who killed three on A1(M) at Bowburn was surfing sex sites

The 41-year-old, who is from Romania, but lived in Galashiels, Scotland, with his family, did not brake before driving into the line of traffic.

Lorry driver Ion Onut

His victims died instantly.

The crashed happened at around 6.15pm on July 15 last year but it was almost 12 hours later before Junior Sullivan, who lost his mother and step-father, heard the heart-breaking news.

At the hearing at Durham Crown Court, he said: “Nothing could prepare me for being woken up by seven-and-a-half month pregnant wife, while lying next to my little boy, to tell me my mam and dad had been killed in a car crash.

“It impossible for me to explain what went through my head at that moment.

“In that very moment my world shattered, and I became an empty shell.

“I could not speak, I could not think, I could not move. I was a frozen mess.

“I wasn’t able to identify my parents because their bodies were unrecognisable.

“They never got the chance to see their beautiful granddaughter who they were so looking forward to meeting.”

David Daglish and Elaine Sullivan

Mr Simpson, a soldier who has a served in Afghanistan and around the world with the Army, said words could not do his pain and suffering justice.

He said the tragedy had made a lasting impact on him.

Mr Simpson said: “Inside I am broken, I am lost.

“When I drive to the shop I am suddenly anxious if I pull up beside any lorry, or if there is a build up of traffic and am constantly checking the rear view mirror, preparing for the ‘what if’ and judging every driver.

“There is unbearable rage at the sight of other drivers using mobile phones.”

Read more: Footage of fatal crash released by police to highlight dangers of driving and using a mobile phone 

Paul Mullen 

The court heard Mr Mullen was hard-working family man, a loving and devoted father to his three children and was about to become a grandfather.

In a statement read to the court his daughter, Orlaigh, said: “My mum Angela and my dad were life partners and losing my dad has left her heart broken.

“They met over 20 years ago and were the best of friends.

“I know how much they loved each other. They really were soul mates. They were meant to grow old together.

“He was always there for us. I miss him coming home every Friday night and shouting ‘hello’ as he came through the door, and giving us all a big hug.”

“My dad will never get to see us growing up and doing things together.

“It is difficult to put into words how much we miss our dad.”

Read more: Lorry driver jailed for three deaths on A1(M) at Bowburn

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