Crash Triggered By Phone Gambler Led To Premature Birth

26 February 2026
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George TorrEast Midlands


A male who was betting on his phone when he crashed into an automobile, causing a pregnant woman to deliver prematurely, has been imprisoned.


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


Police stated the chauffeur of the Nissan suffered whiplash and the pregnant traveler was rushed into healthcare facility with a fractured hips. Two other kids in the same cars and truck suffered while the household's family pet canine was seriously hurt and needed to go through emergency surgery.


Bentley, 30, admitted 2 counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was imprisoned for 28 months at Derby Crown Court and prohibited from driving for 38 months.


After the crash the pregnant female had to undergo an emergency situation Caesarean area, leaving her premature baby in extensive look after a number of weeks, when she suffered two collapsed lungs.


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


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


A motorist in the left-hand lane recorded the footage on her dashcam, which was utilized as evidence.


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


He was seen previously diverting into the lawn brink of the eastbound carriageway in between junctions 6 and 5, as well as swerving in between lanes.


Bentley was jailed at the scene. Analysis of his phone information following the crash revealed he had been utilizing his phone while driving, checking out online betting sites, the force said.


'Missed early minutes'


In a victim impact statement, the mother said: "I required an emergency Caesarean due to my infant remaining in distress. I found this very distressing and didn't want my child to be born like that which early.


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


"When you have a child you expect to be in a bubble with your partner and newborn however we were separated throughout 3 wards in the health center and lost out on a lot in those early minutes.


"No mother or dad ought to have to go through this.


"The next three weeks we spent in hospital getting our baby strong enough to come home."


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


"I know that the physical, mental and psychological trauma from this incident continues to effect on this household, who were merely heading out their day when this entirely preventable crash occurred."


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