A distracted lorry driver who killed a young woman after ploughing into her car on the Dartford Crossing has been jailed for nine years.

Viorel Sandulache, 26, from Croydon, was watching a video on his mobile phone when he drove into the back of the victim’s vehicle in November 2017.

Sandulache denied causing death by dangerous driving but was found guilty following a trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

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The court heard the crash took place at around 4am when the victim, Abigail Harvey, was travelling ahead of the lorry and braked while travelling on the downhill section of the bridge.

Sandulache however maintained his speed and drove into the rear of the car.

Ms Harvey sustained serious injuries due to the crash and died two days later in hospital.

Dash cam footage of Sandulache at the wheel in the moments leading up to the crash showed him looking down at his phone, which had been placed above the speed dial. Music could also be heard in the background.

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An analysis of the phone revealed he had searched for an episode of a TV show seven minutes before the crash.

As well as being jailed, Sandulache has also been disqualified from driving for 10-and-a-half years

Kent Police’s investigating officer PC David Jeeves said: "Sandulache displayed shockingly poor standards of driving in the moments leading up to the collision and his decision to watch a television show at the wheel has ultimately killed an innocent, young woman.

"There is no excuse for the decision he chose to make yet he denied the offence in court, forcing the victim’s family to go through a trial on top of the trauma of losing a loved one."