Crash Triggered By Phone Gambler Led To Premature Birth

26 February 2026
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George TorrEast Midlands


A man who was betting on his phone when he crashed into a cars and truck, causing a pregnant woman to deliver prematurely, has been jailed.


Jack Bentley struck a fixed Nissan X-Trail queuing in traffic on the A50 in Hatton, Derbyshire, on 6 April.


Police said the chauffeur of the Nissan suffered whiplash and the pregnant traveler was rushed into hospital with a fractured pelvis. Two other kids in the exact same vehicle suffered injuries while the family's pet canine was seriously hurt and had to undergo emergency situation surgical treatment.


Bentley, 30, confessed 2 counts of triggering major injury by harmful driving and was imprisoned for 28 months at Derby Crown Court and banned from driving for 38 months.


After the crash the pregnant female had to undergo an emergency situation Caesarean area, leaving her early child in extensive take care of a number of weeks, when she suffered two collapsed lungs.


The infant later made a healing and had the ability to go home.


Derbyshire Police said Bentley, of Meadow Way, Derby, had been taking a trip home from Blackpool when the crash happened at 18:45 BST.


A motorist in the left-hand lane captured the video footage on her dashcam, which was used as evidence.


Bentley, driving in the right-hand lane, did not see the fixed traffic and crashed without modifying his speed, authorities said.


He was seen previously veering into the turf edge of the eastbound carriageway between 6 and 5, in addition to swerving in between lanes.


Bentley was arrested at the scene. Analysis of his phone information following the crash showed he had actually been utilizing his phone while driving, visiting online betting websites, the force stated.


'Missed early moments'


In a victim effect declaration, the mom stated: "I required an emergency Caesarean due to my infant remaining in distress. I discovered this extremely distressing and didn't desire my infant to be born like that which early.


"My infant was born without skin-to-skin contact and me and my partner had to wait to see her.


"When you have an infant you anticipate to be in a bubble with your partner and newborn child but we were separated across 3 wards in the medical facility and missed out on a lot in those early minutes.


"No mother or dad must need to go through this.


"The next 3 weeks we invested in healthcare facility getting our child strong enough to come home."


Following sentencing on 11 February, PC Richard Morris, from Derbyshire Police, stated: "This was a dreadful screen of driving by Bentley, who spent the majority of his journey sidetracked by being on his phone.


"I understand that the physical, psychological and psychological injury from this event continues to effect on this family, who were just going out their day when this entirely avoidable accident occurred."


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