Truck driver jailed after killing motorcyclist

A truck driver has been jailed after killing a motorcyclist in a “highly dangerous maneuver” at an intersection.

Nigel Osler, from Derbyshire, was on his way to work when he collided with Matthew Wright's truck at a junction in Nottinghamshire.

The truck “mistakenly” turned right at the junction of the A616 and the A60 in Mansfield on July 12, 2023, fatally injuring Mr Osler, who later died in hospital.

Wright, 45, was sentenced to nine years in prison at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday after previously admitting causing the death of Mr Osler by dangerous driving.

Wright, of Leeson Avenue, Charnock Richard, in Lancashire, was also banned from driving for 11 years.

The court was told that Mr Osler, 61, was also a truck driver and was on his way to work in the early hours of July 12 when the accident occurred.

As Wright drove east on the A617, he moved to the leftmost of the four lanes (lane one) before turning right at the junction – a maneuver that saw him cross lanes two and three, those for straight-ahead traffic were provided.

The court heard that only motorists in the far right lane (lane four) were allowed to turn right – and that the traffic light for right-turning motorists was red at the time Wright carried out his manoeuvre.

By crossing lanes two and three to complete the illegal maneuver, Wright caused Mr. Osler to crash into the front offside wheel of the truck.

The court was told Mr Osler's family made the “heartbreaking” decision to turn off his life support that night so his organs could be donated after they were told he would not survive.

“The punishment is ours”

In her victim impact statement, Mr Osler's wife told the court: “I can still feel myself cradling his broken head as we turned off his life support and told him it was OK to let go.”

Her husband is known as a “health and safety gentleman” in his job as a truck driver and takes motorcycle safety “very seriously,” she said.

She and her two children also spoke about the “devastating impact” of Mr. Osler's death on their family, including his several grandchildren, describing him as a “kind, funny and caring” man.

“We are the victims, but the punishment is ours,” she added.

Judge Stuart Rafferty KC said the blame for Mr Osler's death would remain with Wright “for the rest of his days”, saying he had no previous convictions and was a man of “good character”.

In a statement after the verdict, Ms Osler's family said: “Trying to save a few minutes cost Nige his life and we would urge anyone using the roads to think about the consequences of their actions. Is it really worth it?”

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