Shocking dashcam footage shows a lorry driver looking at his phone before he was involved in a fatal crash killing a 21-year-old. 

Viorel Sandulache was watching a video on his mobile phone when he drove in to the back of the victim’s vehicle while travelling on Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at the Dartford River Crossing in November 2017.

The 26-year-old, of Oakfield Road, Croydon, denied causing death by dangerous driving but was found guilty following a trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

He was sentenced on Monday to nine years in prison. 

Abi Harvey, 21, died in hospital two days after the crash. 

An investigation by Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit took place and officers obtained dash cam footage of Sandulache at the wheel in the moments leading up to the collision.

Sandulache has also been disqualified from driving for 10-and-a-half years.

The footage showed Sandulache looking down at his phone, which had been placed above the speed dial. Music could also be heard in the background.  

Analysis of the phone revealed he had searched for an episode of a TV show seven minutes before the collision took place.

Officers watched the episode and found the same music could be heard 6 minutes and 45 seconds into the programme, which coincides with the time the collision took place.