Snap-happy road ghouls snapped
2012-08-17 14:26
SHOCKING DRIVER BEHAVIOUR: This driver even had the temerity to prepare his digital camera to take pictures of the accident, described by police officers as "horrific".
Rubbernecks, beware! Curious drivers who whipped out cellphones to capture images of an horrific crash scene have been given a dose of their own medicine by sharp-witted cops.
More than 80 were photographed photographing the crash in which the young driver of a truck was battling for her life.
OGLERS AS DRIVER BATTLED
The London Daily Mail reported officers attending to the horror crash on the M1 north-south freeway were shocked to see the behaviour of drivers in the opposite carriageway who slowed down to get a better look - and to take pictures.
The police set up their own camera to capture the heartless snappers. The images were captured over four hours as they waited for the 21-year old female trucker to be freed from the wreckage.
Sergeant Nick Gray from the Collision Investigation Unit told the Mail: “After completing our investigations at the scene we were astonished to see so many drivers using their cellphones to capture an image of what was an horrific collision.
WARNING LETTERS
“Because of how badly the driver was trapped, we had four hours before we could continue with our work and after witnessing the number of people using cellphones decided to use a camera to film motorists travelling on the opposite carriageway.”
According to the Mail, the crash involved a Suzuki Ignis (precursor to the Swift sold in South Africa) stationary on the hard shoulder.
Rather than prosecute the drivers – using a cellphone while driving is an offence in Britain – the police instead issued stern warnings. Images of the offending drivers have been released and letters sent to the owners of the cars warning them of the offence and reminding them of the dangers associated with driving and snapping.
Gray added that a number of the drivers caught on camera were using company vehicles. Employers who received the letters from the police have since requested more information to allow them to take disciplinary action.
