Lancashire crash: Meeting my son's killer helped me, bereaved dad says

Andy O'Dell says facing his son's killer has helped him find the answers he needed

The father of a boy who died in a motorway crash caused by a driver who was checking Facebook on his phone has said meeting his son's killer has helped him deal with his loss.

Joe Cairns, 14, was killed when James Majury ploughed into a school minibus on the M58 in Lancashire in 2019.

Support worker Anne Kerr was also killed and five others were badly hurt.

Joe's father, Andy O'Dell, spoke to Majury in prison as part of the restorative justice scheme.

He said the meeting was "very emotional".

"I went in angry and came out better than I thought I would do," he said.

"I can't really say a lot but I got a lot of the answers I needed.

"It enabled me from that to start to move on with my life."

Mobile phone records showed Majury, of Coppull, Chorley, had been using his phone throughout his journey.

The court heard he sent texts, made calls, used sports apps, opened a game and scoured Facebook while behind the wheel.

He only noticed the minibus carrying children to Pontville School, a special needs school in Ormskirk, half a second before the impact.

Despite braking hard, his lorry hit the minibus at 50mph. Ms Kerr, 50, from Southport, Merseyside, and Joe died at the scene.

James Majury had been using his mobile phone at the wheel moments before the crash

Mr O'Dell, from Bury, Greater Manchester, said he has had "immense" struggles since the loss of his son five years ago.

"He's gone too soon," he told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"His life was took needlessly... by the man... who drove recklessly using a mobile phone," he said.

He decided to meet his killer, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for eight years and 10 months, when he was offered the chance through the restorative justice scheme.

Joe Cairns was killed when a HGV ploughed into his school minibus

Mr O'Dell said coming face-to-face with Majury had changed his frame of mind as he managed to get some answers.

"It worked for me," he said.

"I have my moments I won't deny that and my days when I am quite sad and down but not as much."

Five people were also injured in the crash

Mr O'Dell said he also gives talks, sharing his story to others to raise awareness of the dangers of using a phone while driving, which has also helped him.

"It helps me to talk about things and get things off my chest and talk about Joe and try and spread the word of not using your phones," he said.

He said tougher punishments were needed for drivers who use their phone at the wheel and called for the government to do more.

"It only takes that one lapse," he said.

Ms Kerr's sister, Elaine Wyper, has also called for tougher penalties for people who use their phone while driving, which has been a criminal offence for more than 20 years.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "Our deepest sympathies go to the family and friends of Joe Cairns and Anne Kerr.

"We have strict laws in place against using hand-held phones while driving and we're clear on the penalties for those who break them."

He added that the government had also raised the jail term for killer drivers from 14 years to life and continued to educate people with its Think! campaign.