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| M1 driver jailed for causing death of PC Mark Goodlad | M1 driver jailed for causing death of PC Mark Goodlad |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A lorry driver has been jailed for causing the death of a police officer when his vehicle strayed on to the hard shoulder of a motorway. | A lorry driver has been jailed for causing the death of a police officer when his vehicle strayed on to the hard shoulder of a motorway. |
| PC Mark Goodlad, 41, of Goole, East Yorkshire, was helping a stranded motorist when he was killed on the M1 near Wakefield in October 2011. | PC Mark Goodlad, 41, of Goole, East Yorkshire, was helping a stranded motorist when he was killed on the M1 near Wakefield in October 2011. |
| Andrew Abernethy, 45, of Rembrandt Walk, Oldham, previously admitted causing death by dangerous driving. | Andrew Abernethy, 45, of Rembrandt Walk, Oldham, previously admitted causing death by dangerous driving. |
| A judge at Leeds Crown Court jailed him for two years and nine months. | A judge at Leeds Crown Court jailed him for two years and nine months. |
| PC Goodlad had been an officer with West Yorkshire Police for 10 years. He left a widow, Helen, and a teenage son, Ben. | PC Goodlad had been an officer with West Yorkshire Police for 10 years. He left a widow, Helen, and a teenage son, Ben. |
| Eye pain | |
| In a statement, Mrs Goodlad said: "We all know that Mr Abernethy did not set out that day with the intention of taking a life. But it's without doubt that he is solely responsible for the death of my husband Mark. | In a statement, Mrs Goodlad said: "We all know that Mr Abernethy did not set out that day with the intention of taking a life. But it's without doubt that he is solely responsible for the death of my husband Mark. |
| "Mark wasn't just a part of my life, he was my life. There are no words to describe how much I love and miss him. | "Mark wasn't just a part of my life, he was my life. There are no words to describe how much I love and miss him. |
| "He never overlooked any opportunity to help people because that's why he joined the force and that's why he found himself that day, at the side of a lady needing help. | "He never overlooked any opportunity to help people because that's why he joined the force and that's why he found himself that day, at the side of a lady needing help. |
| "Mark died doing what he did best. He was a hero at work and a hero at home to his family." | "Mark died doing what he did best. He was a hero at work and a hero at home to his family." |
| After veering on to the hard shoulder, Abernethy's lorry trapped PC Goodlad between his police car and another vehicle. | After veering on to the hard shoulder, Abernethy's lorry trapped PC Goodlad between his police car and another vehicle. |
| Last month, when Abernethy pleaded guilty, Leeds Crown Court heard how it had still not been established why the crash happened. | Last month, when Abernethy pleaded guilty, Leeds Crown Court heard how it had still not been established why the crash happened. |
| Prosecutors said the incident showed classic signs of being a "sleep-related" collision but investigators found no evidence Abernethy had worked excessive hours or not slept. | Prosecutors said the incident showed classic signs of being a "sleep-related" collision but investigators found no evidence Abernethy had worked excessive hours or not slept. |
| The court heard that the defendant maintained he was distracted because he had a pain in his eye. | The court heard that the defendant maintained he was distracted because he had a pain in his eye. |