- Anthony Marston, 54, from Telford was killed instantly while refuelling his car
- The hard shoulder was operating as a live lane at the time of the crash
- CCTV show drivers avoid Mr Marston before Michael Preston’s lorry hits him
- Footage shows 30-year-old Preston, who was texting, taking no evasive action
- Mr Marston’s family described him as ‘one of life’s original characters’
Michael Preston ploughed into father-of-two Anthony Marston on the M6, killing him instantly
A lorry driver who killed a ‘loving’ father-of-two by ploughing into him on a hard shoulder of the M6 as he sent text messages has been jailed.
Anthony Marston, 54, died instantly when Michael Preston’s HGV crashed into him on the northbound section of the motorway, just past junction 10.
Preston was jailed for two years and eight months after the 30-year-old of Matlock Avenue, Telford, pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Mr Marston, also from Telford, had stopped briefly on the hard shoulder on August 21 to refuel his Mercedes E300 estate, which was towing a trailer.
The hard shoulder was running as a live lane at the time of the crash which took place at around 3pm.
But CCTV footage showed several vehicles switching lanes to avoid Mr Marston before the Preston ploughed into him without any sign of evasive action.
Mr Marston’s family described him as a ‘loving father’ and ‘one of life’s original characters’ after he was killed by a lorry driver
Sergeant Alan Wood, from the regional Collision Investigation Unit, said Preston also undertook a vehicle while signs warned him of a hazard ahead.
‘From the footage it is clear that Marston was distracted and examination of his mobile phone shows that he was sending and receiving text messages when his tachograph showed he was on the move,’ he said.
‘At one point he undertook another vehicle in lane three as he travelled north.
‘Visibility was good and gantry signs were indicating a hazard ahead.’
Preston will also be disqualified from driving for 30 months on release from prison.
Mr Marston’s family paid tribute to him, saying: ‘Tony was a loving father to Laura and Luke and husband to Sue. He lived life to the full, he was one of life’s original characters who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.’